Funding the elections: Paying for political parties, paper and people

How much funding will each political party in Greece get for its national election campaign?

Caretaker Interior Minister Michalis Theoharidis announced the distribution of funding among the Greek parties for the national elections on January 25. The funding is as follows:

Total funding is 4,036,000 euros.

2,018,000 euros (50%) of funding goes to the political parties who hold seats in parliament according to the number of seats they hold.

10% goes to parties that have representations in the European Parliament.

How much does this translate to in euros?

Conservative New Democracy party – 747,214.52 euros
Main Opposition Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA party – 706,463.94 euros
Socialist PASOK party – 263,632.28 euros
Ultranationalist Golden Dawn party – 194,296 euros (however funding for this party has been suspended)
Democratic Left (DIMAR) – 134,239.08 euros
Greek Communist Party (KKE) – 126,425 euros

What will the total cost of the elections amount to? 

All up, the elections of January 25 are estimated to cost Greece over 45 million euros excluding the 15 million euros as payment to the Greek police. The bulk of the cost is for legal representatives and staffs preparing the elections (38 million euros), with an additional part-time staff to hel pin the electoral process (18 million euros). The paper used in the ballots will cost 1,452,356 euros and envelopes to cast the ballots in are to cost around 254,000 euros. They will then put in sacks worth 16,254 euros. Transport costs with private trucks transporting the material are worth 54,120 euros.