Mali General elections - The Malian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to spend about FCFA 6 billion to organize presidential and parliamentary elections and hold referendum on constitutional revision in 2012, PANA learnt here following Wednesday's meeting between INEC, representatives of political parties and civil society in Bamako.

The budget is meant to cover the increase in the number of polling booths - about 23,000 - and was set after discussions with the Minister of Economy and Finance.

Since its establishment 14 September, INEC has already set out its rules and installed its bureau, headed by the representative of the civil society, also General Secretary of the High Islamic Council, Mamadou Diamoutani.

The electoral body is preparing to set up branches in 703 municipalities, 49 counties, the District of Bamako and the 46 Malian embassies and foreign consulates.

According to the Electoral Act, INEC is to supervise and monitor the whole electoral process.

It ensures that elections are fair and reliable by supervising the compilation of voters' registers, preparation of voters' cards, electioneering campaign, voting, vote counting, transmission and centralization of poll results.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Local Government is responsible for organizing the elections whereas the General Delegation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is charged with managing the voters' register.

The other participants in the electoral process are the National Committee for equal access to state media (NCCM), political parties, candidates and the Constitutional Court, charged with proclaiming poll results.

INEC has 15 members, including five representatives from civil society and 10 others representing both the ruling and opposition parties.

Pana 14/10/2011