In Egypt, the price of subsidized bread has just quadrupled from this Saturday, June 1. The measure whose application was announced a week ago by the government has not, for the moment, provoked strong reactions.
The price of a 90-gram subsidized flatbread increased from 5 to 20 piastres. A price multiplied by four, but let us point out that the smallest Egyptian coin is 25 piastres or half a euro cent, reports our correspondent in Cairo, Alexandre Buccianti.
According to the government, the flatbread actually costs six times more than its price after increase.
“ For more than 30 years, the price of subsidized bread has not changed “, justified Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli announcing the decision this week, even if in fact throughout this period its true cost ” has multiplied ” Many times, ” placing a financial burden on the State which has increased significantly “.
If the price of bread has been maintained over the years, the size of the subsidized pancakes has shrunk. In the most populous Arab country, with more than 106 million inhabitants, around 71 million Egyptians benefit from bread subsidies, the Prime Minister said.
Each of these 71 million Egyptians is theoretically entitled to five pancakes of subsidized bread per day. A bread which in Egyptian is called “ 3aych “, the life.
An essential bread, because the poorer you are, the more bread you consume. However, more than 30 million Egyptians officially live below the poverty line.
Finally, there are those who put this 15 piastres increase into perspective, like this trader:
