Al Wefaq calls for talks on subsidies

Manama: Al Wefaq, Bahrain's largest parliamentary bloc, is drafting a motion calling upon the government to consult with the parliament before lifting or reducing subsidies.

"Our aim is to ensure that any decision to cut off subsidies on fuel or any other consumption necessities will go through some specific measures before it is implemented," MP Mohammad Jameel Al Jamri said.

Measures include submitting in-depth studies carried out by neutral bodies and consultations with all the parties concerned with the decision and with NGOs, Al Wefaq said.

"Any change in the subsidy policy to be introduced by the government should be transferred to the parliament where it will be debated so that it is enacted as a law," he said.

Food prices

Al Wefaq, which commands 17 of the 40 seats in the lower chamber, said that its motion would help address growing concerns about possible hikes in fuel prices and the repercussion on the cost of other necessities.

"Decisions to cut off subsidies will have a very serious impact on large segments of people and will erode many of the gains they had acquired in recent times. An increase in fuel prices will affect the prices of most of the goods in the country."

A newspaper report last week claimed that the government was mulling a 20 per cent increase in the prices of fuel which have been unchanged since 1984.

Angered by the claims, MPs from all blocs voiced their opposition to the move and expressed their concerns to the oil and finance ministers during a stormy parliament session.

Straight answer

Neither minister confirmed the new price policy, prompting the lawmakers to send a letter to the prime minister seeking a straight answer while some MPs threatened to take to the street.

The government said that the price increase was mentioned in a study to help it tackle the increasing burdens from the subsidy programme.

However, 11 political societies, wary of future hikes, on Friday staged a rally to demonstrate against the possible increase, claiming that the newspaper report had been leaked as a balloon test to gauge reactions.

Interior ministry sources said that 2,000 people took part in the rally.