The elections of January 25th are expected to cost over 45 million euros, excluding the cost of the remuneration of Greek police, estimated at 15 million. The finance ministry asked the ministry of interior to cut election costs as much as possible, following a request of 50 million euros. After negotiations, the finance ministry finally approved 45 million euros, according to Kathimerini daily. The ministry of interior said the May 2012 elections cost 42.7 million euros. The cost of remuneration to the ministry of public order for 2012 was 15 million euros. The cost of this year’s elections will be close to that amount minus an estimated 10 percent. This year there will be less polling stations, meaning less electoral representatives, less polls and screens. The ministry expects to save 4.7 million from the last two alone. Also, it is reported, the ministry is considering not to advertise the January 25 elections, thus saving a further 1.3 million euros. The bulk of the cost is for legal representatives and the staff preparing the elections and working in the polling stations. It is estimated at 38 million euros this year. The cost of legal representatives, the staff preparing the election procedures and those working in polling stations amounted to 24 million in 2012, according to the report. The ministry of interior is planning to hire a part-time staff of 50 to help in the electoral process with an estimated total pay of 18,000. The paper ordered for ballots will cost the Greek state 1,452,356.33. There will be 13 million envelopes for the ballots and will cost 254,118 euros. The 35,000 ballot sacks ordered will cost 16,254.45 euros and the private trucks hired to transport the electoral material will cost another 54,120 euros.
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