HIBAPRESS – Yassin Dammiri
The draft finance law for 2027 is at the forefront of the urgent files awaiting the expected government headed by Fatima Zahra Mansouri, given its importance in defining the state's economic and social orientations, and setting public spending priorities and its funding sources.
The tight legal deadlines place the head of government and the next Minister of Economy and Finance, whose identity is not yet known, in front of the challenge of accelerating the preparation of the draft and ensuring its readiness within the constitutionally set deadlines, allowing for the continuous management of public finance without confusion.
Article 48 of the Organic Law No. 130.13 relating to the finance law sets October 20th of each year as the deadline for submitting the draft finance law for the following year to the office of the House of Representatives.
Accordingly, the draft finance law for 2027 must be submitted by October 20th, 2026, at the latest, making the time factor crucial for the new government, whose formation has not yet been announced. This is especially true since preparing the draft requires coordination between various ministerial sectors, adjusting revenue and expenditure forecasts, and identifying economic and social priorities.
Before the draft reaches Parliament, it goes through constitutional and institutional stages, including deliberation on its general orientations in the Council of Ministers, then its study within the Council of Government, within the framework of constitutionally defined competencies.
The Minister of Economy and Finance plays a fundamental role in preparing the draft under the authority of the Prime Minister, making the formation of the government team and the determination of responsibilities related to public finance files that cannot tolerate significant delay.
After its submission, the organic law grants the House of Representatives a period of up to 30 days to study and vote on the draft, while the House of Councillors has 22 days, before it is resubmitted to the House of Representatives for final decision within six days.
These deadlines are part of a legislative process aimed at approving the budget before the start of the new fiscal year, ensuring clarity of resources and expenditures and the continuity of public policy implementation.
This timeline presents the expected Mansouri government with its first practical test of its readiness in managing strategic files, as it is not just about preparing an annual financial document, but about defining the economic and social choices that will guide the state's work during 2027.
In the event that the finance law cannot be issued before the end of the year, the organic law allows for exceptional measures to ensure the continued operation of public services, but adhering to the normal process remains the primary option to avoid any confusion in the management of public finance.
