Panama’s National Assembly Seeks $176.6 Million for 2027 Budget and $68 Million Credit for 2026

Panama’s National Assembly has requested $176.6 million for its 2027 budget, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance has recommended allocating $97 million.

Assembly President Shirley Castañedas presented the request on Thursday. Of the proposed total, $166.9 million would fund the legislature’s operations. The request comes as the Assembly manages a financing gap for the remainder of 2026.

The legislature’s initial 2026 budget stood at $98.7 million. Modifications later increased it to $146.4 million, including $10 million for investment. By July, the Assembly had already executed more than $88 million in spending.

To cover operating expenses, the Assembly asked the MEF for a $68 million extraordinary credit. Castañedas said the request, formally submitted on July 21, is needed to pay contributions to the Social Security Fund, the 13th-month payment, employee salaries and other outstanding commitments through December.

Castañedas rejected the idea that the request had entered administrative silence. She also said the only officials with pending payments are those who still appear on the 2020 payroll.