New Saudi King Salman Goes on $29.3 Billion Spending Spree

The new King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman, has begun a massive spending spree in an effort to shore up political support and make a strong first impression on the population he now rules over.

Al Arabiya reports that King Salman ordered various expenditures totaling $29.3 billion. A portion of the money will be used to provide a bonus equivalent to two months work for government employees. Former government employees will also receive a payment equal to two months of their typical pension payments.

In addition to government employees, students, welfare recipients and the disabled will also receive payments equal to two months of their regular payments from the state. Because of the large amount of oil wealth in Saudi Arabia, social spending on various subsidies is high.

King Salman has announced an increase in that spending by pledging $5.3 billion to subsidies for necessities like water, housing, and electricity. The king also promised $267,000 dollars to each of Saudi Arabia's art clubs.

King Salman became king after the death of his brother, King Abdullah, Jan. 23, 2015.

Reuters reports that in addition to the spending, King Salman announced changes to important government posts which are also cabinet level positions. The posts were for the heads of the Justice Ministry and the Religious Police. In addition to those changes, he also changed the current head of the national intelligence agency.

The king also appointed new ministers of agriculture, education, and information to mark the passing of one week since his ascension to the throne.

The king also created and destroyed entire ministries outright. The ministries of education and higher education were combined into one body while the Supreme Council for Petroleum and Minerals Affairs was dismantled.