Madagascar: consultations on the increase in the price of fuel at the presidential palace
An oil exploitation of the Madagascar Oil company in Tsimiroro, in the west of the country. (Photo: June 18, 2014) AFP/RIJASOLO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Civil society organizations, consumer defense associations and employers' groups were received this Saturday, July 9 by the Malagasy Head of State, Andry Rajoelina at the presidential palace of Iavoloha, on the outskirts of the capital, Antananarivo, to discuss the terms of application of the price increase at the pump.
The tankers were received this Sunday.
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From our correspondent in Antananarivo,
Laetitia Bezain
An "
inevitable
" increase, declared the Malagasy President, Andry Rajoelina.
At less than one euro per liter of diesel (3,400 ariary, or 0.82 euros) and gasoline (4,100 ariary, or 0.99 euros), Madagascar is one of the countries in Africa where fuel is the least dear, he argued.
Since 2019, the Malagasy state has subsidized fuel to maintain its price at the pump despite fluctuations on the international market.
A policy that is no longer tenable with the surge in the price of a barrel of oil.
While in recent months, the prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed, this increase in the price of fuel worries the Malagasy all the more.
If the new prices at the pump have not yet been decided, the National Consumer Defense Network has pleaded for a staggering. "
If we accept the truth of the prices, the increase will be around
2,200 ariary per liter fuel.
What we asked was not to apply the increase all at once
,
”
explains Lita Rabetsara, its president.
I would like to thank the representatives of the private sector group, representatives of civil society as well as associations for the defense of consumer rights: their involvement for the well-being of the Malagasy population and our economy is important.
pic.twitter.com/RrbRXgPCpk
— Andry Rajoelina (@SE_Rajoelina) July 9, 2022
Another request from civil society organizations is to save Malagasy people the cost of public transport by subsidizing bus cooperatives to avoid a sharp rise in ticket prices.
A bus ticket that many inhabitants of the Big Island are already struggling to pay.
"
We have asked for social protection measures to be put in place because 1,800,000 Malagasy people have fallen below the poverty line with the crisis caused by the coronavirus
"
,
points out Hery Rason, executive director of the NGO Ivory.
80% of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day in Madagascar.
The president has been receptive, say these organizations.
For the time being, no element has filtered on the meeting between the head of state and the oil companies.
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To read also:
Madagascar: the tourism market brings together players in the sector after two years of pandemic
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Madagascar
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