T

he government has allocated Rp 14.4 trillion (US$ 1.3 billion) to fund the legislative and presidential elections. The amount is higher than for previous elections.

Of the amount, 57.59 percent will be dispersed to Provincial General Elections Commissions (KPUD) to finance polls in the regions.

In addition, the Finance Ministry has approved the General Elections Commission'€™s (KPU) budget request for Linmas (community protection) officers of Rp 1.3 trillion and an additional budget for the construction of polling stations. The Linmas officers, tasked with securing polling stations during the elections, will be paid Rp 250,000 each, while the KPU will get an additional Rp 250,000 per polling station.

The government has also allocated Rp 1 trillion for the National Police to secure elections across the country.

In 2009, the government allocated Rp 13 trillion for legislative and presidential elections, of which only Rp 9.4 trillion was spent. In 2004, the KPU spent only Rp 4.4 trillion for the elections.

As stipulated in Law No. 15/2011 on elections, the state budget is the only source of funding for elections.

'€” Adnuri Mohammadi