Election Commission Requests 10 Billion Kyats Budget
Election Commission Requests 10 Billion Kyats Budget
The Irrawaddy, 01 Feb 2017
URL: http://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/election-commission-requests-10-billion-kyats-budget.html
RANGOON — Burma’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has requested more than 10 billion kyats (US$7.4 million) from Parliament for election-related expenditures in the upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year, which will start April 1.
U Soe Reh, a member of the electoral body, presented the proposal to the Union Parliament on Tuesday.
The commission requested a total annual budget of 10.85 billion kyats ($8 million), of which 2.2 billion ($1.6 million) will be allocated for conducting by-elections.
Another 7.2 billion kyats ($5.3 million) would be allocated to operations in sub-commissions across the country; 1.2 billion kyats ($0.9 million) would be spent to build new commission offices in 38 townships; and 64.5 million kyats ($48,000) would be spent on vehicle repairs, explained U Soe Reh.
On Wednesday, the UEC published voter lists for the by-elections slated for April 1. The lists will remain on display from Feb. 1-14. A total of 95 candidates, including 24 political parties and 7 independent candidates, will compete in the upcoming polls.
The by-elections will take place in Rangoon, Sagaing and Bago divisions, as well as in Shan, Karenni, Mon, Chin and Arakan states, in order to fill 19 vacant positions.
On Tuesday, U Soe Reh told lawmakers that the commission has requested a smaller budget compared to the previous 2016-17 fiscal year. The previous UEC budget totaled 15.3 billion kyats ($11.3 million) and was approved under the previous government.
U Soe Reh, a member of the electoral body, presented the proposal to the Union Parliament on Tuesday.
The commission requested a total annual budget of 10.85 billion kyats ($8 million), of which 2.2 billion ($1.6 million) will be allocated for conducting by-elections.
Another 7.2 billion kyats ($5.3 million) would be allocated to operations in sub-commissions across the country; 1.2 billion kyats ($0.9 million) would be spent to build new commission offices in 38 townships; and 64.5 million kyats ($48,000) would be spent on vehicle repairs, explained U Soe Reh.
On Wednesday, the UEC published voter lists for the by-elections slated for April 1. The lists will remain on display from Feb. 1-14. A total of 95 candidates, including 24 political parties and 7 independent candidates, will compete in the upcoming polls.
The by-elections will take place in Rangoon, Sagaing and Bago divisions, as well as in Shan, Karenni, Mon, Chin and Arakan states, in order to fill 19 vacant positions.
On Tuesday, U Soe Reh told lawmakers that the commission has requested a smaller budget compared to the previous 2016-17 fiscal year. The previous UEC budget totaled 15.3 billion kyats ($11.3 million) and was approved under the previous government.