Raad Says Austerity Measures Mustn’t Impact the Poor or Employees

Head of Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad on Friday said the government “must not take from the poor and state employees in its quest to implement reforms and slash the budget deficit,” the National News Agency reported.

“We are not allowed to touch the pockets of the poor and employees in our quest to implement reforms to slash the budget deficit, and forget tens of years of theft, corruption and squandering that filled the pockets of many who ruled then,” said Raad.

Such measures “could cause destruction and chaos. They have to look for other resources and when they do, they will find that the poor employees will also contribute to reforming the economic situation and reducing the budget deficit.”

"We are in a difficult economic situation. In spite of all our bitterness and harm to our people, we must prove that we are partners in this country and assume our responsibility in addressing the economic, budget and financial situation,” he added.