Opposition harshly criticizes new Cabinet Agenda [Archives:2007/1043/Front Page]
By: Moneer Al-Omari
SANA'A, April 18 – The new Yemeni Cabinet presented its plan to Parliament for discussion and endorsement on Monday, but the plan was met with harsh criticism from opposition members of the Parliament, together with some MPs affiliated with the General People's Congress (the ruling party).
Opposition blocs criticized the plan, describing it as part of previous governments' plans and noting that it lacks both a measuring mechanism and a timetable for implementation.
They stressed the importance of prioritizing matters related to economic and social development, alleviating poverty and eradicating unemployment and corruption.
At Monday's session, Abdulrahman Bafadhl, head of Islah's parliamentary bloc, voiced his pessimism about the new Cabinet's plan, pointing out that most ministers were part of the previous government, especially those assuming key ministries such as Interior, Foreign Affairs and Planning and International Cooperation.
Bafadhl further alleged that the new plan is no more than rhetoric, especially regarding the general budget, trade and banking reform, as well as limiting unemployment and price hikes, because reality will belie the plan within the coming months.
He also challenged the new government to fix prices, let alone lowering them, and criticized the absence of mechanisms that can help prevent the coming price hikes.
Likewise, Aidrous Al-Naqib, head of the Yemeni Socialist Party bloc, asserted that there's nothing new in the plan, as it's the same thing heard from former Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal's government.
Al-Naqib emphasized the importance of adopting comprehensive political, economic, administrative, financial and legal reforms, maintaining that amending the electoral system will ensure peaceful transfer of power, which will avert a monopoly by any authority.
He added that consecutive governments did nothing except patch reforms, which aim to prolong the current regime's life, although it contributes to increasing poverty and unemployment, as well as cause investment and capital to leave Yemen.
For his part, head of the Nasserite Unionist Party bloc, Sultan Al-Atwani, noticed the absence of the effect of previously conducted reforms in the new Cabinet plan. He declared that the existing plan is modeled after earlier ones, maintaining that it's vague, particularly regarding matters related to alleviating citizens' sufferings and eradicating poverty and unemployment.
Amin Ali Amin, head of Islah's syndicates and public organizations department, told Al-Sahwa.net that the plan of Mujawar's government violates the Yemeni Constitution and effective laws concerning ensuring citizens' rights and freedoms. He added that the new Cabinet intends to amend private societies and institutions law in such a way that restricts their activities and freedoms.
In its plan submitted to Parliament, the new Cabinet assured that it reflects President Ali Abdullah Saleh's electoral platform, as well as the third five-year plan and the poverty alleviation strategy.
The plan's main points include the government's determination to encourage investment in order to ease poverty and minimize unemployment, as well as expand Yemen's web of infrastructure to all areas nationwide. It also displayed an interest in enhancing electrical power with 600 megawatts by 2009, together with adopting alternative power sources.
Regarding water, the plan promises increasing clean water service coverage to 65 percent in urban areas and 45 percent in rural ones, as well as extending the web of sanitation services.
Similarly, the new government promises to improve Yemenia airline's operating capacity, restructure the firm and establish a new company for domestic flights in collaboration with the private sector.
Parliament will vote on the new government plan on Thursday. Regardless of the opposition's stance, it is expected to pass, especially given that the General People's Congress holds the majority of seats in Parliament.
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