El Salvador: the cost of democracy

With time running out, El Salvador’s Electoral Tribunal is scurrying to find funds to pay for transportation and other services, needed to manage procedures for the country’s presidential election, to be held next February 2.

Expenses include food and accomodation for local and international observers, and even venues for counting ballots.

The Tribunal still owes money - $ 2.3 million – to suppliers of various services, related to last year’s legislative and municipal election.

Few companies are interested in bidding to supply services to the Tribunal, given its bad credit history.

Close to five million Salvadorans are eligible to vote for a successor to the current president, Mauricio Funes.