The Royal Decree 64/2000, of 17 January, of dissolution of the Congress of Deputies and of the Senate and of the convocation of elections, establishes in its article 2 the call of elections for its celebration on March 12 of 2000.

On the other hand, the Organic Law 5/1985 of 19 June of the General Electoral Regime, as amended by the Organic Laws 1/1987 of 2 April; 8/1991 of 13 March; 6/1992 of 2 November; 13/1994 of 30 March; 23 March; 1/1997 of 30 May; 3/1998 of 15 June; and 8/1999 of 21 April, under Title II of the Special Provisions for the elections of Deputies and Senators, regulates the amounts of grants to electoral expenses. in Article 175, paragraph 4 of which states that ' the quantities referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall be refer to constant pesetas. By Order of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the updated amounts are fixed within five days of the call. "

The concreteness of the grants for electoral expenses, when expressed in constant pesetas, requires the application of the rates of deflation that are determined by the index of consumer prices applicable in each case.

In its virtue, I have:

First.-The updating of the amounts fixed to subsidise the expenses incurred by the electoral activities, regulated in Article 175 of the Organic Law 5/1985, of 19 June, in writing given to the same by the Organic Laws 8/1991 of 13 March, and 13/1994 of 30 March, will be verified by applying to the quantities mentioned in that article of the deflecting coefficient of the correction of the consumer price index.

Second. The amounts referred to in the preceding paragraph are as follows:

a) Subsidy of 2,692,000 pesetas for each seat obtained in the Congress of Deputies or in the Senate.

b) Subsidy of 101 pesetas for each of the votes obtained for each candidacy to the Congress, one of whose members, at least, would have obtained a seat of Deputy.

c) Subsidy of 40 pesetas for each of the votes obtained by each candidate who would have obtained Senator's seat.

Third.-The limit of the electoral expenses will be the one that results from multiplying by 47 pesetas the number of inhabitants corresponding to the population of right of the constituencies where present their candidacies each party, federation, coalition or grouping.

Fourth. -In addition to the preceding paragraphs, the amount of the grant to the parties, federations, coalitions or groupings, of the electoral expenses incurred by direct and personal sending to the voters of envelopes and electoral or propaganda ballots and election publicity, shall conform to the following rules:

(a) 27 pesetas shall be paid by voter in each of the constituencies in which he has submitted a list to the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, provided that the reference application has obtained the number of deputies or Senators or precise votes to constitute a Parliamentary Group in one Chamber or another.

Obtaining a Parliamentary Group in both Houses will not be entitled to receive the subsidy more than once.

(b) The amount subsidised shall not be included within the limit laid down in the third subparagraph, provided that the actual performance of the activity referred to in the fourth paragraph has been justified.

Final disposition.

This Order shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the State.

Madrid, 18 January 2000.

HANGING OUT AND FIGAREDO