While the examination of the 2026 Draft Supplementary Budget Bill (Plfr) promised to be highly charged in the National Assembly, the government secured at the last minute the referral of the bill back to committee. Relying on Article 84 of the Rules of Procedure, the Minister of the Economy and Finance, Cheikh Diba, requested further discussions with MPs in order to calm tempers and explore avenues for a compromise after the bill was initially rejected by the Finance Committee.

By Dieynaba KANE – The supplementary budget bill was ultimately not examined in plenary yesterday. The Minister of the Economy and Finance requested that the bill be sent back to committee to deepen discussions with MPs. Cheikh Diba made the request before the general debate opened, relying on Article 84 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. It should be recalled that this referral comes amid tensions over the examination of the 2026 Plfr, which was rejected by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee. With this new referral to committee, the government is seeking further discussions with parliamentarians.

In line with the approach of dialogue set out by the PM at his press conference on the subject last Sunday, Mr Diba wants to smooth things over. “The government is requesting this referral to the Committee on Finance and Budgetary Control for further discussions as soon as possible,” he declared.

​To make his request, Cheikh Diba thus relied on Article 84 of Law No. 2025-11 of 18 August 2025 on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. This provision notably allows a request for a bill to be referred back to the lead committee during the general debate and until its close. The minister pointed out that referral to the lead committee is automatic when the representative of the President of the Republic requests it. “Respect for the rules cannot be applied selectively. It is a permanent requirement binding on all

institutional actors,” said Cheikh Diba.

​In his address, the minister also recalled the exchanges that took place on Monday 26 October, following the call for dialogue issued by the Prime Minister. He noted the willingness expressed by the chairman of the Committee on Finance and Budgetary Control in a letter to the government, as well as the positive response from the Ministry of Finance. These exchanges concern in particular the concerns raised in a memorandum sent to the government. For Cheikh Diba, this return to committee should make it possible to examine these points while at the same time trying to find compromises. “Referral to the Finance Committee can provide this additional working space so that the issues raised are examined with all the necessary attention and the possibilities for compromise are explored seriously,” he stressed. Minister Cheikh Diba also pointed out that the LFR engages the State’s capacity to pursue its public policies, honour its commitments and ensure the sustainability of its finances.

Following the government’s request, the sitting was adjourned and the Speaker of the National Assembly convened a meeting to set the dates for the committee work and the plenary.

dkane@lequotidien.sn