Tunisia adopts 2022 budget with $2.8b deficit

Tunisia has adopted the 2022 budget short of around $2.8 billion amid economic hardship that has hit the country also gripped by an unprecedented political crisis, triggered since July 25 after President Kais Saied has seized all major powers.

The Tunisian government, Webdo Tunis reports, will present this Tuesday the draft of the financial act during a press conference.

A leaked document of the draft puts the national budget for next year at TD47.166 billion (around $16.4 billion) including $2.8-billion deficit.

The government’s resources stand at TD38.6 billion, the media notes citing the leaked document.

The North African country is facing economic stress due to the pandemic that has affected the economy. The government has turned to some countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Libya and Algeria to get loans.

Saudi Arabia and Libya are reportedly expected to provide each $500 million attached with small interest. Algeria this month agreed to loan Tunisia $300 million.

Tunisia is also in talks with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, for a financial facility.