Summary of "غرفة الأخبار | قانون المالية 2026 على طاولة التصويت اليوم"
Overview of the Upcoming Vote on Algeria’s 2026 Draft Finance Law
The video discusses the forthcoming vote on Algeria’s 2026 draft finance law in the National People’s Assembly, emphasizing intense parliamentary debates and procedural controversies.
Parliamentary Amendments and Controversies
- Deputies submitted 77 amendments to the draft law.
- The Assembly’s bureau rejected all but 12 amendments on formal and substantive grounds.
- Only 5 amendments were passed through the Finance and Budget Committee.
- This rigorous filtering process sparked criticism regarding the limited parliamentary role in amending the finance law.
Constitutional Constraints on Amendments
Member of Parliament Slimane Zergani explains a key obstacle:
The interpretation of Article 147(d) of the 2020 Constitution prohibits amendments that reduce expenditures or increase financial burdens.
- The Constitutional Court’s prior intervention has led the Assembly’s bureau to reject many amendments citing this article.
- This effectively curbs parliament’s power to modify the draft finance law.
- Zergani argues this undermines the legislative function, as parliament should be able to amend draft laws to reduce taxes or add beneficial measures.
Role of the Finance Committee and Parliamentary Dynamics
- The Finance Committee mainly approved procedural amendments that do not affect taxes or fees.
- This reflects the dominance of pro-government parliamentary blocs aligned with the executive.
- Zergani stresses that this practice contradicts the essence of parliamentary work and legislative independence.
Content of the Remaining Amendments
Deputies aimed to:
- Protect purchasing power.
- Raise or adjust taxes.
- Oppose amendments that alter other laws through the finance law, such as changes to the Monetary and Banking Law.
A notable amendment concerns tax exemptions for poor municipalities:
- Deputies proposed extending exemptions beyond major cities (Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba).
- The proposal bases relief on economic need rather than geography, targeting poorer municipalities within these provinces.
Tax Reconciliation Measures
- The draft law reduces the tax reconciliation rate from 10% to 8%.
- Zergani doubts this will effectively curb tax evasion or boost compliance, citing limited impact of previous similar measures.
- He highlights concerns about tax fairness and criticizes the government for encouraging tax evasion by making reconciliations predictable rather than surprise-based.
Bloc-Specific Outcomes and Future Outlook
- Most amendments from the Movement for a Peaceful Society bloc were rejected, except the one on poor municipalities.
- Looking ahead, Zergani notes:
- The draft law aims to support purchasing power and vulnerable groups.
- However, inflation and increased costs undermine these benefits.
- The finance law is overly focused on expenditure without a coherent economic or developmental vision.
- Such a vision is essential for Algeria’s future stability and growth.
Presenters/Contributors
- Member of Parliament Slimane Zergani (via telephone)
Category
News and Commentary
