Following a significant surge in fuel prices on Monday, there is an increasing demand for measures to safeguard the purchasing power of Moroccan citizens. The recent hikes, which saw gasoline and diesel prices rise by two dirhams per liter, have raised alarm bells regarding the potential ripple effect on the pricing of other essential consumer goods. Concerns are mounting that this unexpected escalation could further strain household budgets across the nation.
Abdelghani Erraqi, a member of the National Front to Save the Moroccan Oil Refinery, spoke to Hespress AR, asserting that the recent fuel price increase is neither unprecedented nor surprising. He labeled the hike as "unjustified," especially considering that both national and global reserves should mitigate such drastic fluctuations. Erraqi pointed out that the current situation was anticipated due to the absence of price capping and the lack of government intervention, attributing the ongoing repercussions to the price liberalization policies enacted by the previous administration. He emphasized that the consequences of these policies are now being felt across various sectors and services.
Erraqi raised concerns about the imminent effects of rising fuel prices on the Moroccan populace, warning that escalating costs could jeopardize social stability. He urged the authorities to impose price caps to protect citizens' purchasing power and suggested that restarting the Samir refinery could help cushion the impact of these price increases.
In a similar vein, Abdelillah Al Khadri, the head of the Moroccan Human Rights Center, expressed that the consistent rise in fuel prices has become a significant worry for citizens. He noted that prices tend to spike rapidly in response to any international tension or anticipated increases in global oil prices, often before such events have any tangible effect on the national market. Al Khadri criticized the swift implementation of these price hikes, highlighting that national reserves could serve as a buffer against global price fluctuations.
He underscored the urgent necessity for capping fuel prices or, at the very least, implementing strict oversight to ensure transparency in pricing mechanisms. This would help prevent exploitation of international market conditions and the resulting unjustified profits at the expense of everyday citizens. Al Khadri called on the government and relevant authorities, including the Competition Council, to rigorously monitor the market, enforce regulations, and actively protect the purchasing power of Moroccan citizens.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
