The recent Croatian Parliament elections, held in April, cost approximately 13 million euros, according to a provisional report on election expenses. The State Election Commission (SEC) will now need to compensate the political parties and candidates who won parliamentary seats for their campaign expenses, with 2.7 million euros allocated for this purpose.
The process of compensating election participants for their campaign expenses is ongoing, with detailed reports and financial assessments by the SEC to determine the amounts to be paid out. Those receiving compensation can expect to receive it within 15 days of the SEC publishing a report on participants’ compliance with election finance laws, which is expected in the first half of July. In the previous elections held in July 2020, fees were paid out three months after the elections, indicating a significant delay in the process.
Comparing the costs of the recent elections to those four years ago, adjustments need to be made due to different currency denominations. However, it is anticipated that this year’s elections will be around 2.2 million euros more expensive than the previous ones in July 2020. The bulk of election costs are attributed to fees for electoral bodies and material expenses, with increases seen in both categories compared to the previous elections.
The expenses of the elections include payments for election committee members, IT support costs, and compensation for employees involved in administrative and technical work. Material costs cover items like printing ballots, ballot boxes, and election materials. The overall expenditure for the April elections was significantly higher than the previous ones, with rising costs attributed to various factors including an increase in fees and rising prices of materials like paper.
It is expected that material costs for the April elections will be considerably higher than those of July 2020 elections
