The first political parties’ Pre-Budget Dialogue

Purpose and context

• The event was convened as a Pre-Budget Review Dialogue ahead of the 2026/27 National Budget, designed to give political parties a structured platform to discuss fiscal priorities, economic realities, and policy proposals before the Minister of Finance finalises the budget.  

• It aimed to widen engagement beyond government ministries and technical experts by incorporating views from multiple political parties on issues that should shape the budget strategy.  

Participation

• Following a public nomination process, a roster of political parties across the political spectrum were formally invited to participate in the dialogue.  

• youth leagues from BAP, UAT, RFP, BNP and YES took part in discussions, debating key fiscal and policy issues in front of an audience.  

Key issues discussed

• Parties focused on fiscal priorities and economic policy, including what sectors should be funded in the coming budget, how government revenue should be marshalled, and what macro-economic challenges (e.g., inflation, unemployment) need to be addressed.  

• Participants debated how the forthcoming budget can better reflect citizen needs, youth employment, and economic development imperatives, pushing for policy clarity ahead of the formal budget speech.  

General tone and outcome

• The dialogue was positioned as collaborative rather than confrontational, focusing on constructive input rather than partisan point-scoring.  

• While not a decision-making forum, it served as an important consultative space to surface differing party priorities and push for those views to be reflected in the final budget proposals.  

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