Is there money for early elections?

Political subjects in Kosovo have already expressed readiness to hold early elections, even launching the pre-election campaign without the elections being scheduled.

On the other hand, at the Central Election Commission, they say they still do not have the money to start election preparations.

Valmir Elez, spokesman at this institution, tells Radio Free Europe, that this year was not envisioned as an election year and therefore there are no means planned for elections in the Budget Law. He says that after the election proclamation, the CEC will apply in Government for the necessary financial means.

As soon as the demand for financial means was approved, following its presentation, Elez says it would greatly facilitate the CEC's work in organising the elections.

“Supported in past practices, so when extraordinary elections have been announced, the CEC applies to the Government of Kosovo for financial means to hold elections”.

The previous parliamentary elections, which have also been unplanned, have total costs of 4m euros. But how much the eventual elections will cost, we can't know now. The CEC begins with intensive preparations for an election process only after the decision is made to its envoy. Therefore, in this regard we have not yet made any budget planning. The government is awaiting the CEC's bid”, Elez says.

Finance Ministry officials, meanwhile, claim that the financial means for the eventual election organisation exist in the ministry.