The caretaker government adopted a decision regarding the preparation and organization of the early parliamentary elections on April 2, the Government Information Service reported on Friday. The budget for the elections totals BGN 87.7 million.
The budget will cover the cost of preparing and printing out the voter registers, purchasing and producing election stationery, printing the ballot papers, logistical support for the regional and municipal administrations as well as the Council of Ministers' administration, remuneration for the members of section and constituency election commissions, the computerized tallying of the votes, and the organization of an awareness campaign on voters' rights and obligations and the way a vote can be cast.
The government is prepared to provide additional funding when contracts are concluded for logistics and technical maintenance of the specialized devices for electronic machine voting, as well as for other materials and accompanying activities for ensuring the election process, including of machine voting and video monitoring.
In the conditions of a non-adopted 2023 state budget, the funding of these expenditures will be done in accordance with the Act on the Implementation of Provisions of the 2022 State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria Act, the 2022 State Public Social Insurance Budget Act, and the 2022 National Health Insurance Fund Budget Act, under which the Council of Ministers is authorized to approve funding for elections in accordance with the Election Code.
Under another decision, the Council of Ministers Friday tasked the caretaker Interior Minister with coordinating all activities related to the preparation of the elections. He will also be responsible for liaising with the Central Election Commission.
The caretaker Finance Minister was tasked with submitting to the Council of Ministers a draft fee for the political parties, coalitions, and initiative committees that broadcast campaign advertisements on Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio.
The caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister will coordinate the drafting and publishing of the voter registers.
The caretaker Foreign Minister will be in charge of organizing overseas voting.
The caretaker Justice Minister will be responsible for voting in prisons and other detention facilities.
The caretaker e-Government Minister will organize the technical activities for video monitoring in accordance with the Election Code.
The Council of Ministers' decision provides for the Prime Minister to be kept updated on the election preparations until the announcement of the election results. The persons responsible for this task are the Ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Regional Development and Public Works, Health, e-Government, and Justice.
/DS/
news.modal.text
