KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The Palau Election Commission has requested a supplemental budget of $33,955 to fund the recall election for Senate President Seit Andres and Sen. Joshua Koshiba scheduled on July 11.
In a letter to President Tommy Remengesau, Commission Chairman Santos Borja said the recall petition for Andres and Koshiba were filed with on May 16.
“The commission was faced with the enormous task of reviewing more than 5,600 signatures on the petitions within very limited amount of time because the Constitution requires that if a recall election is to be held, it must be held within 60 of the petitions filing,” Borja said.
Now, he added, the commission needs money for the recall election.
The commission is asking $14,350 for personnel cost which will cover payments for board members, staff and tabulators; $9,500 for patrol boats to go to the Southwest Islands; $2,600 for election supplies; and $1,800 for printing expenses.
The commission said the petitions filed by supporters of Sen.-elect Elias Camsek Chin’s against the two lawmakers met the requirements under the Constitution.
The commission said it has determined the authenticity of the signatures.
The petition for Andres contained 2,806 signatures while the petition for Koshiba had 2,887 signatures.
According to the commission’s official records, Andres received 6,108 votes in the 2000 general elections while Koshiba garnered 6,283 votes.
Under the Constitution, the Andres petition needed more than 1,527 signatures while the Koshiba petition needed 1,571 signatures.
