Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad has said that the government will arrange the finances to hold the presidential election again, following the annulment of the first round results by the Supreme Court on Monday.
Minister Jihad told Sun today that he will need to hold discussions with the Elections Commission to determine the amount of funds required to repeat the election.
“We don’t know the expected cost yet. Regardless, we have to find the money to conduct the election, even if it means slowing down other expenses, for the time being,” Jihad said.
He noted that the court had allowed, in its ruling, 72 hours of the Elections Commission to hold discussions with other relevant State institutions to prepare for the election, and that the expected cost will be determined within that time.
Finance Minister had earlier said that the ministry will not be responsible for Elections Commission's extra expenses in preparation for the elections after the Supreme Court injunction issued on the 23rd of September, which ordered the Commission to postpone the election until the court reaches a verdict.