site.btaCabinet Approves Planned Budget for Preparing, Conducting April 4 General Elections

February 3 (BTA) - Speaking during Cabinet's regular weekly meeting here on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said, as quoted by the Government's information service, that the Council of Ministers has provided 65.251 million leva "to ensure fair and transparent elections".

Borissov also said that taking into account the funds for the purchase of voting machines, the government has so far allocated nearly 110 million leva for preparing the elections.

The funding approved on Wednesday is 1.2 million leva more than the initial estimate of the Finance Ministry, the press release says. The balance will be used to satisfy a demand of the Central Election Commission regarding the pay to the members of the constituency election commissions and the district or "section" election commissions.

The money will be used for preparation and printing of the electoral registers, preparation of the necessary election papers and materials, printing of the ballot papers, logistical support for the regional, municipal and central government administrations, remuneration to the members of the election commissions, processing of the voting results, issuing a bulletin with the elections results, and an information campaign about voters' rights and obligations, and the manner of voting.

Also, polling locations, voting by mobile ballot boxes or dedicated polling stations will be provided for quarantined and self-isolating voters and Covid-19 patients in hospitals. All necessary personal protective equipment, including protective masks, gloves, sanitizers, etc., will be provided to ensure safe conditions for holding the elections amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. RY/ZH
/МЙ/