The clash over the 2027 State Budget has begun before the discussion officially opens in Parliament. The Democratic Party said it will boycott today’s meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons, where the draft budget and the fiscal package were scheduled to be presented by the finance minister, calling into question how one of the most important public finance processes is being managed.
DP: No documents have been made available to lawmakers
According to the Democratic Party parliamentary group, by midnight no materials on the 2027 draft budget had been made available to lawmakers, even though it was scheduled to be presented at the 08:30 meeting.
In its response, the opposition said the draft law, the explanatory reports and the accompanying financial documentation were missing, which, it argues, makes any serious review of an initiative directly related to the use of public money impossible.
Accusations of a rushed procedure in Parliament
The Democratic Party claims the meeting was announced only on the afternoon of the previous day, to be held the following morning, raising doubts about compliance with Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
According to the opposition’s version, Article 12, point 3 of the Rules of Procedure provides that meetings of the Conference of Chairpersons, as a rule, are held no earlier than 48 hours from the moment of notification. On that basis, the Democratic Party describes the convening of the meeting as an unacceptable procedure for a law as weighty as the state budget.
Debate over Parliament’s role and oversight of the government
In its statement, the Democratic Party argues that lawmakers cannot be reduced to listeners of a presentation without first having the opportunity to read and analyse the documents. The opposition insists that Parliament’s constitutional duty is to oversee and demand accountability for how the use of public funds is planned.
This position shifts the clash not only to deadlines, but also to Parliament’s function vis-à-vis the government. When the draft budget is presented without full documentation and on a compressed timetable, suspicions of a formal process, rather than a real debate, become unavoidable.
What the opposition is asking for
The Democratic Party says it is not rejecting discussion of the budget, but rather the procedure through which it is being attempted. It is demanding that the draft law on the 2027 State Budget and all accompanying documentation be made immediately available to lawmakers.
The opposition is also demanding that the Conference of Chairpersons be convened in accordance with the rules and that a realistic review calendar be guaranteed, with time for analysis, questions, discussion and amendments. According to the party, the budget cannot be treated as an administrative formality, but as the main financial act that determines the government’s real priorities.
The Democratic Party’s absence from this meeting immediately shifts the debate from the substance of the 2027 Budget to the legitimacy of the procedure followed for its presentation.
Given that this concerns the law that determines the collection and distribution of public money, transparency, full documentation and respect for parliamentary rules remain essential, regardless of the majority of the day.