$8m In 80 Days Election Bill

Fiji’s 2022 General Election cost taxpayers more than $8 million in just 80 days – between October 31, the day the Writ for Election was issued and December 19, 2022, the day the Writ was returned.

In its 2022 General Election, Supervisor of Elections Report released in March, the Fijian Elections Office noted that out of the entire grant allocation of $33.2 million for the 2022/2023 financial year to fund its election preparation work, $15.7 million was allocated for the election day and writ period alone.

“The government grant approved for the FEO in its financial year August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 was $33,211,124.53 VIP compared to 2018 which was $20,412,496 allocated for the year after which additional funding of $2,439,805 was released to cater for election expenditure,” the report said.

“From the government grant funding of $33,211,124.53 allocated for the year, $15,077,539.14 was allocated to cater for the expenditure for the Election Day and Writ period. From the Election Budget of $15,077,539, $8,785,801 was utilised for election expenses.”

Political parties also spent big last year in preparation for the December elections, as revealed in their 2022 financial reports, recently filed with the FEO as required by law.

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Story by: dionisia@fijisun.com.fj