Finance Bill 2027: MPs Call for a Social State Independent of Oil Revenues

The debates on the 2027 finance bill continued on Wednesday for their third consecutive day at the People's National Assembly (APN), focusing on maintaining the state's social welfare character while demanding the diversification of financial resources and the promotion of national production. MP Mouloud Laïeb expressed dissatisfaction with the budget's absolute reliance on hydrocarbons, although he welcomed the preservation of social protections. He questioned the Minister of Internal Trade regarding shortages of essential goods, pointed out the gap between political rhetoric and ground realities for investment and startups, and noted the agricultural sector's failure to meet expectations regarding import reduction. Meanwhile, MP Seba Laaredj argued that any changes to fuel prices must be submitted to Parliament due to their direct effect on citizens' purchasing power, criticized the allocation of most of the education budget to administration, and requested a university hospital center. Furthermore, MP Kheira Ibrahim drew attention to the deficit caused by expenditures exceeding revenues, urging the government to diversify funding sources through productive investments rather than relying strictly on taxes and oil. These interventions highlight the central challenge of protecting social commitments while decreasing economic vulnerability to petroleum market fluctuations.