Bahrain Mirror: The local Bahraini Al-Wasat newspaper said that the government recently "replaced the vehicles of a number of ministers with new 2016 BMWs."

"The government replaced the cars of the ministers assigned in 2011 with black-colored 2016 BMW vehicles," it added.

Al-Wasat concluded its report by saying that "the new cars were granted to the ministers a few days after the decision to raise petrol prices was issued, which came into effect on Tuesday (January 12, 2016).

Due to the drop in oil prices, the government took a series of austerity measures, such as directly lifting subsidies on meat, fuel and electricity. But despite announcing it will reduce government expenses, it hasn't reduced any of the privileges granted to ministers and advisors not to mention members of the ruling family.

Arabic Issue