EU, France pledge 2 million euros to back elections in Madagascar

The European Union (EU) and France Thursday vowed to assist Madagascar with one million euro each for the presidential elections slated to take place in the African country next November.
The pledged funds will go into a basket Fund set up by the UNDP, earmarked to back the electoral process.
The independent Electoral mission indicated that it needed 32 million euros to organize the elections.
France and EU’s announced contributions bring current funds in the UNDP-established pool of funds to 2 million euros.
Germany is also expected to contribute from its pledged-3 million euros for five African countries organizing presidential elections this year.
The Basket Fund, local media “Madagascar Tribune” reports, will be expanded to finance part of the presidential elections, part of the legislative elections and part of the municipal polls. For the presidential election, the support fund will cover the purchase of ballot papers, the part of the election budget that requires the largest share, the media adds.