Netherlands pledges 1.5m euro for polls

JAKARTA: The Dutch government promised on Thursday to donate 1.5 million euro (US$1.7 million) for the upcoming presidential runoff on Sept. 20.

The Netherlands, which now sits as the president of the European Union, had earlier awarded 6 million euro to the General Elections Commission (KPU) to organize the previous elections in April and July.

Thus far, members of the European Union have contributed a total of $21.5 million to the KPU for this year's elections.

Foreign countries and institutions that have provided financial assistance to the KPU include Britain ($2.6 million), Sweden ($2.02 million), Finland ($124,720) and the European Commission ($8.5 million). -- JP