Petrol price hike upsets Kuwait MPs

35 lawmakers sign a motion calling for parliament session to debate the 80% increase

Kuwaiti lawmakers yesterday requested an emergency session of parliament to debate a government decision that increased petrol prices by up to roughly 80 per cent.

Kuwait’s parliament is in summer recess until midOctober but a majority of the 50-member house can demand an emergency session to debate pressing issues.

MP Ahmad Al Qhudhaibi said 35 lawmakers signed the motion to discuss why the government raised its heavily subsidised petrol prices for the first time in almost two decades.

The increase, which came into effect on September 1, was harshly criticised by a large number of MPs and civil society organisations.

In their motion, lawmakers said the move had resulted in a rise in the prices of commodities and goods.

MPs want the government to compensate Kuwaiti citizens who comprise around 30 per cent of the 4.3 million population, which also includes about three million foreigners.

The date of the meeting will be worked out with the government.

Budget deficit

The cabinet has said the decision is part of a series of measures to meet a budget deficit due to a sharp drop in oil revenues which previously made up around 95 per cent of the country’s total income.

Kuwait liberalised the prices of diesel and kerosene in January 2015 and revises them monthly. Other Gulf states had already raised fuel and electricity prices.

In April, parliament approved a government-sponsored bill to raise electricity and water prices paid by foreign residents and businesses, but exempted Kuwaiti citizens.

The Opec member recorded a budget shortfall of 4.6 billion dinars ($15.3 billion) in the fiscal year which ended on March 31, Finance Minister Anas Al Saleh said last month. It was the first shortfall since the fiscal year to March 1999.