Saudi Arabia DOWNGRADES economic plan in FRESH BLOW to Crown Prince after Khashoggi death
A MAJOR Saudi Arabian economic reform package designed by Crown Prince has been drastically downgraded in the latest blow to the successor to the throne, whose reputation has collapsed following the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Newsnight: Khashoggi’s murder known to monarchy says friend
The original reform plan, titled the National Transformation Programme, set hundreds of objectives which should be achieved by 2020.
However an amended version, posted online unannounced, significantly reduces many of these targets.
Many of the economic, housing and energy targets have been pushed back and added to the “Vision 2030” programme to be completed a decade later.
The original goal of having women make up 28 percent of the Saudi workforce by 2020 has been dropped, and replaced with a less radical objective of 24 percent.
The National Transformation Programme, released in 2016, had been designed to prepare Saudi Arabia’s economy for a post-oil era.
Over the past two years, the Saudi government has already been forced to abandon several key reforms linked to the programme following a public backlash.
This included a deeply unpopular series of planned cuts to the public wage bill.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) has come under fierce criticism following the killing of dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed Mr Khashoggi was murdered then dismembered by a 15 strong Saudi hit squad.
After initially claiming he had left the consulate unharmed Saudi authorities said he had been killed by a team of rogue operatives.
They arrested 18 men they claimed were responsible and dismissed two senior figures, including Saud al-Qahtani a senior aide to MbS.
Several of those arrested were former aide of, or have been linked to, MbS.
Saudi prince: Wedge won't form between Saudi Arabia and Turkey
A number of senior figures have suggested MbS, Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler due to King Salman’s ill health, may have known about the murder in advance.
Asked whether he believed MbS was involved President Trump replied “if anyone were going to be, it would be him”.
Ilnur Cevik, a close aide to the Turkish president, accused MbS of having “blood on his hands” over the murder.