During a hearing in the Parliamentary Interim Finance Committee charged with studying the Supplementary Finance Act of 2019 and the Finance Act of 2020, on 22/11/2019, Finance Minister Ridha Shalgoum pointed out that the House of Representatives and the next government have two options: either to adjust fuel prices or receive external loans, leaving the Tunisian people between two fires, the dependence on international financial institutions and the high prices and high living standards.
The deficit and dependency options referred to by the Minister of Finance indicate that the successive governments lack political will and are subject to foreign dictates. The state’s loans policy has plunged the country into a sea of debts amounting to more than 82.6 billion dinars, which represents 71.1% of GDP, which tightened the Western grip on the country and its economic options. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose delegation visited Tunisia from October 8-11, 2019, to assess Tunisia’s commitment to major reforms and to discuss the government’s proposed budget, has imposed Tunisia’s gradual lifting of fuel subsidies, in the framework of the “automatic adjustment” for the price agreed upon between the government and the Fund since the conclusion of the facilitating loan agreement in 2016, so the rate of increase reached 24 percent, and warns of the same rate by the year 2020.
We in Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Tunisia have repeatedly warned successive governments of following the IMF, and showed them that these measures violate the rules of Islam, and their devastating effects on the society, economy, and sovereignty of the country. But they chose this world and obeyed the IMF’s recommendations and its lethal doses, and the result can be seen and doesn’t need explanation.
Today, we advise our people in Tunisia and tell them: that the scourge of rising prices and taxes are a burden on you and will not stop if you accept the state’s starvation and impoverishment policy on its people. The situation will even get worse, because the IMF is pressing the government to devour what remained of the country’s resources after its control of natural resources.
O our People in Tunisia: It is your duty to hold the government accountable on the policy of subordination and submission to the foreigner as it is a great evil (munkar), which must be removed immediately. You must direct your anger at the laws of the corrupt capitalist system and embrace your vital issue; to restore Islam in life, by establishing the Khilafah Rashida (righteous Caliphate) that will fully implement Islam in all aspects of life, so you will get the happiness in this world and receive the pleasure of Allah in the Hereafter.
Allah (swt) says:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَعِظُكُمْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ أَنْ تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
“Say, “I only advise you of one [thing] – that you stand for Allah, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought.” There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment” [Saba’: 46]
Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia
Wednesday, 30th Rabii’ I 1441 AH
27/11/2019 CE
Issue No.: 1441 / 10