Elections Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq says the budget allocated for the commission is not enough for it to perform its duties, especially during an election year.
The 2023 presidential election is scheduled for next year with all the major parties expected to field candidates.
The Parliament had passed a budget of MVR 42.86 billion for next year with MVR 120 million allocated to the Elections Commission initially. But the Budget Committee had cut it down to MVR 92 when it passed the budget for next year.
Answering a question from 'The Press', the Commissioner said that since the funds requested by the Commission were not approved, it would be difficult to perfectly carry out the tasks set by the Commission.
Fuad said that the Commission has now successfully implemented austerity measures to cut down on expenses and that he believed that the Finance Ministry would provide the funds required by the Commission in its time of need.
The Commissioner further said that he expects to hold the Presidential election next September and that the Commission can hold the first round of the elections without any hitches.
But the Commissioner said that he expects the Election to go to a 2nd round and that the Commission must then hold discussions with other relevant organizations to find a way forward.
Fuad said that during the 2013 Presidential Election, the Commission's expenses surpassed the budget allocated for the election.
The Elections Commission has now begun preparing for the Presidential Elections and is looking to hire more staff as well as train staff for ballot duties and prepare ballot papers required for the elections.
