Saudi king fires utilities minister amid outrage over price hikes

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has fired the country’s water and electricity minister following massive public backlash over a price hike on utilities. The move Saturday comes less than six months after the government cut subsidies on water, electricity and other utilities. Abdullah al-Hussayen will be replaced by Abdel Rahman al-Fadhli, Saudi Arabia’s current agriculture […]

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has fired the country’s water and electricity minister following massive public backlash over a price hike on utilities.
The move Saturday comes less than six months after the government cut subsidies on water, electricity and other utilities. Abdullah al-Hussayen will be replaced by Abdel Rahman al-Fadhli, Saudi Arabia’s current agriculture minister. The Saudi government announced the steep cut in utility subsidies in December as oil prices dropped around the world and it needed to rein in spending.