PanExpats
Sign Up

Budget 2027 clears the Assembly

The Asamblea Nacional approved Bill 644, the 2027 General State Budget of $35,111.7 million, in third debate on Friday 30 October 2026, La Prensa and TVN reported. La Prensa tallied 49 votes in favour, 18 against and no abstentions. The bill now goes to the Executive for sanction or objection.

What the Assembly closed

  • Total envelope: $35,111.7 million (La Prensa; TVN).
  • Split: $12,839.7 million (36.6%) investment; $22,272 million (63.4%) operating (La Prensa).
  • Session: plenary opened after midday Friday, one day before ordinary sessions close on Saturday 31 October (La Prensa; TVN).
  • Path so far: second debate on Thursday 29 October passed 51-20 (La Prensa 29 Oct). Third debate finishes the Asamblea stage.
  • La Prensa notes the 2027 starting figure is close to the 2026 opening budget of $34,900.8 million, while 2026 had already grown to $38,915.4 million by 30 September through transfers and additional credits (La Prensa 30 Oct).

Contracting exceptions stay in the fight

  • The most contested change, a reform of article 370 that widens who can buy technical services, spare parts and equipment under $1 million without applying Law 22 of 2006 on public procurement in fortuitous, urgent or justified public-interest cases, was approved in second debate and remained the focus of opposition speeches in third debate (La Prensa 29-30 Oct; TVN 30 Oct).
  • Entities already on the exemption path include Metro de Panamá and subsidiaries, Idaan, Etesa, AAUD and Tocumen International Airport. The amendment language adds institutions "such as" the Education, Public Works and Government ministries (La Prensa; TVN).
  • Economy Minister Felipe Chapman has said the article 370 change came from deputies, not the Executive, and pledged rigorous oversight within the law (La Estrella 30 Oct; TVN earlier coverage).
  • Opposition voices, including Vamos deputies quoted by La Prensa and TVN, argued the rule weakens transparency (La Prensa; TVN).

What it means for expats

  • Your personal tax filing does not change overnight. This is the State's 2027 spending map clearing the Asamblea and waiting on Executive sanction and Gaceta publication.
  • Watch the contracting-exceptions fight if you care how ministries and municipalities buy works and services next year, including quake-recovery related purchases. Wider exemptions can speed urgent buys and also reduce open bidding.
  • Debt-service and investment shares still matter for the fiscal backdrop expats feel through public works, CSS funding fights and utility investment. What is new today is process: third debate done, Executive next.
  • Do not treat Assembly passage as final law until sanction and publication land.

Sources

  • La Prensa - Assembly approves Budget 2027 in third debate amid contracting-law criticism - 30 Oct 2026
  • TVN - Budget 2027 approved in third debate; now to the Executive - 30 Oct 2026
  • La Prensa - Budget 2027 second debate and article 370 exceptions - 29 Oct 2026
  • La Estrella - Third debate preview and Chapman oversight pledge - 30 Oct 2026