The Independent Electoral Commission says $712 million will be needed to organize presidential, parliamentary, and local elections until 2013.

IEC chair Apolinaire Malu Malu told Radio Okapi that the cost will be mostly paid by the government, unlike in 2006, when the international community paid for most of the cost of the first free and fair elections in the country in more than 40 years.

"It's a dynamic budget. But broadly, it is already very strict; it has been the subject of great discussions that lasted an entire year. So, this is not a budget that comes out of nothing, it is a very concerted budget. Even if there is still debate on some issues like who pays for this and that, or where is it possible to reduce it a bit to make it manageable,” Malu Mlu said.

He added that the government will fund 60% of the cost, which will be divided into each of the country's annual budget plans.

On the web: Congo News Agency | Excerpts from Le Potentiel article