Bahrain Mirror: The former Secretary-General of the Nationalist Democratic Society, the economic researcher Hassan Al-Aali considered that the falling oil prices is the ostensible reason behind the economic crisis that Bahrain is experiencing, explaining that "the real cause is the failure that lasted for four decades, since the rise of oil prices and the failure of diversifying the sources of income and state budget."

In a symposium held at the headquarters of Al-Wefaq in the Bahraini capital Manama entitled, "Economic Crisis...Whereto?" on Sunday night (January 17, 2016), he added: "880 million of frequent expenses, representing 45% of the budget, goes to the budgets of the Ministries of Defense, Interior and National Security. This amount could be spent on other matters, if a political solution was found, and we'll get rid of all these military expenses."

He further pointed out that the government today sells oil, which costs it USD 10, and has a market price of USD 30, to citizens at USD 67. This is not what lifting subsidies is. It is imposing taxes!

Arabic Issue