Every political party, independent slate or candidate of ethnic minorities will receive 180,000 kuna (eur 24,000) from the government for each seat won at the forthcoming election to cover their election campaign costs, the government decided at its meeting on Thursday.
The government earmarked 28 million kuna for election campaign costs as part of the interim budget for the first quarter of 2012, or 20 million less than for the previous election in 2007, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said.
Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar said that the reduced amount of campaign funding was the result of the government's efforts to cut costs and the fact that in previous campaigns declared costs did not match the money spent on campaigning.
Political parties and independent candidates who win more than five per cent of the vote in a constituency but are eventually not awarded a seat in parliament will receive 30,000 kuna in compensation.
Candidates of ethnic minorities that account for less than 1.5 per cent of the country's population who do not enter Parliament although they have won more than 15 per cent of the vote in their constituency will receive 15 per cent of an MP's allowance in compensation for their costs.
Compensation for campaigning costs will be paid into the special accounts of the political parties, minority candidates and independent slates within 60 days of the publication of final election results.
