Finance Minister Announces Measures to Address Budget Deficit
Finance Minister Michket Slama Khaldi stated on Friday, November 28, 2025, that the gap between the state's budgetary resources and expenditures for 2026 represents a financing shortfall of approximately 11 billion dinars. This amount will be covered by an intervention from the Central Bank of Tunisia.
Key Points
- The measure is part of a "self-sufficiency policy" and does not constitute a loan, but rather a mechanism to facilitate government action.
- The budget is not just a set of numbers, but also a collection of concrete projects distributed throughout the territory, including 583 local projects with a total cost of 940 million dinars.
- The government has agreed to progressively recruit staff into the public sector and absorb precarious employment, which will incur additional costs.
Budget Priorities for 2026
The minister highlighted the objective of directing more resources towards public investment, which will increase by 12.4% compared to 2025. Credits will be allocated to improve public services in the health, education, transportation, and regional integrated development program sectors.
Restructuring of Public Enterprises
The Ministry of Finance is working, in coordination with relevant institutions, to restructure public enterprises and establishments while preserving the state's contribution, ensuring their sustainability, reducing their debt, and reviewing their governance models.
External Borrowing
The minister noted that resorting to external borrowing is not excluded, but remains an option subject to the respect of essential criteria. The government will prioritize self-sufficiency and explore alternative financing options before considering external borrowing.
