TIRANA, Oct 29 /ATA/ Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the 2027 draft budget and accompanying fiscal package to the Conference of Chairmen today, before the panel establishing the legislative timetable for debate and final approval. The opposition Democratic Party boycotted the session, claiming they were not provided with the necessary supporting documents in advance.
The DP parliamentary group slammed the government for failing to circulate accompanying budget documents to lawmakers ahead of the hearing, calling it an impediment to effective parliamentary scrutiny. According to the party statement, MPs were left completely without documents leading up to the session.
According to the DP, key draft bills and supporting financial data were omitted ahead of the session. The opposition stressed that MPs were forced to attend a budget presentation for a document they were unable to examine beforehand, creating a clear impediment to parliamentary oversight.
The opposition further contested the short notice provided for the session, invoking parliamentary regulations. Citing Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Rules of Procedure, the Democratic Party highlighted that meetings of the Conference of Chairmen are required to be scheduled at least 48 hours after formal notification.
Calling the state budget a critical policy framework rather than a formality, the DP demanded a transparent and unhurried review process. The opposition warned that failure to provide full financial records undermines lawmakers’ ability to fulfill their parliamentary oversight responsibilities.
The DP statement maintained that substantive debate and parliamentary oversight are impossible without complete access to information, arguing that MPs cannot perform their duties while denied essential documents. Furthermore, the opposition accused the government of organizing the session as a public relations spectacle rather than a legitimate policy discussion on national finances.
Clarifying its stance, the opposition noted that its boycott was directed at procedural flaws rather than the budget debate itself. The Democratic Party asserted that it refuses to take part in a process that hollows out meaningful legislative oversight, calling on the government to promptly release all 2027 budget documents and establish a timetable allowing ample time for examination, questioning, and amendments.
Emphasizing that “the budget belongs to the Albanian people,” the DP parliamentary group urged the Speaker of Parliament to enforce procedural rules and uphold lawmakers’ constitutional rights. Confirming its boycott of the session, the opposition asserted that while the executive branch holds the mandate to propose the national budget, it cannot dictate how Parliament conducts its oversight duties.
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