Baitas: speculators are hindering government action

Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas acknowledged on Thursday the existence of speculators who continue to manipulate prices of consumer products in Morocco, despite the government’s efforts.

“We agree, there are still speculators, and this is a big problem,” said Baitas at a press conference at the end of the Government Council.

Baitas answered journalists’ questions about the exponential increase in the prices of fruits, vegetables, milk, meats, oils and other products that make up the typical shopping basket of Moroccan households.

“We must recognize it (…) unfortunately we see them all, we know them, they take advantage of the incomprehensible increase in the prices of some of the products,” he said.

Baitas also denounced the practices of sellers who set prices higher and refuse to lower them.

“We will not tolerate it,” he warned, pointing out that those who do not comply with these provisions will be obliged to do so by specific measures that the government plans to put in place if necessary.

The government attaches “great importance to Moroccan’s purchasing power,” said the minister, stressing that priority is given to the national market before export.

“We have managed to have concrete results for several food products,” he assured, despite speculation that continues to contribute greatly to the rise in prices and hinders the Executive’s action to lower them.

The government will continue to “work on this,” he argued, explaining that it is work that is not only done at the level of price control, but also at the level of discussions with producers.

“We intervene for each subject and we study existing shortages … and we make great efforts to lower prices,” he assured.