A Government by the Poor, for the Rich Noureddine Boutahar

The new government in Morocco seems to be trigger-happy these days. The sharpest ever increase in fuel price has loosened the members of government's tongues to say illogical and dogmatic things to explain the hike. They said the decision was 'bold', 'timely', and 'beneficial' to social groups in need!
A member of government, Mr. Boulif, said that the rise will not affect the poor because the poor don't have cars! When I heard the man, I congratulated myself, in petto, on belonging to the wealthy upper class. Another one, Mr. Khalfi, said that the increase is in favor of the needy!! Aristotle and Descartes would turn in their graves if they heard that logic; as if the needy don't use the means of transport and don't buy foodstuffs. A third, Mr. Prime Minister, advised people to use public transport because he wouldn't pay for their gas!! What a responsible speech this is!
These guys are dead wrong by all means. It stands to reason that the effects of any increase in the price of oil are automatically reflected on the prices of other staples. Raising fuel prices by about 20 percent for gasoline and 10 percent for diesel will cause food prices, transportation charges, accommodation costs and all other costs to soar. Also, the above laughable explanations show that the people's expectations and the rulers’ objectives are poles apart.
The decision to raise gas prices also came a week after the "Dignity Protest" in Casablanca. This means one of two things: either the government has lost focus because of its inability to score a single point since its appointment six months ago and has started to flounder, or that the government is sending out a message to the proletariat that any challenge will be met with an even tougher challenge. However, the consequences of this obstinate response have not been well assessed. Worsening the already weak purchasing ability of the people is fanning the flames of an already fragile social stability caused by mass unemployment and social, economic and political inequalities. The PJD must have forgotten that it is thanks to these popular protests that this government came to power before turning its back on those who gave it the piggyback ride.
People who voted for PJD have pinned so much hope on this party after years of suffering and neglect. However, the party seems bold against the poor and meek with the influential - the "demons" and "crocodiles" as Mr. Benkirane himself called them. This policy will certainly make the PJD party lose its stronghold and electorate capital. After its failure to net the "big fish," the government turned against the weakest link in the chain - the poor. For example, a few days after the government's failure to impose a modest wealth tax on the wealthiest, Benkirane's team announced this unpopular, shocking, and surprising rise in the gas prices; the highest in the history of Morocco.
One might wonder if the government has no other options. It can be countered that the government could have made a lot of money if it had put its heart in fighting corruption as it had promised during the election campaign. Billions of dirhames are lost through tax evasions; exorbitant salaries and exorbitant privileges like free housing, fuel and phone compensations - ministers and Gerets included ; ghost workers (90000 employee); The multi-million dollar music festival Mawazine which gobbles and squanders billions of Moroccan money; bailouts of companies which provide no benefit to the public, and so on.
As Thomas Freedman said, "Deep holes and weak leaders are a bad combination." This is a weak government - so far - and it should take advantage of whatever credibility it still has left to dig itself out of the scrape it has put itself in, or forfeit and join the USFP who also came in on the shoulders of the poor only to serve the interests of the rich.