Sonatrach corruption scandals drag Yousefi to Parliament

Minister of Energy and Mines, Youcef Yousfi, will be at the National People’s Assembly next to answer the Thursday, to answer orally a question in the precautionary measures that are taken by his sector to fight corruption, which has damaged the reputation of the National Company of Hydrocarbons Sonatrach, which was hit by two cases, the first issue of Sonatrach 1, and the second whihc became international especially in Italy, Sonatrach 2.

Previously, government has refused to give its approval to respond to oral questions related to issues of economic corruption that are handled by justice, and backed down on its decision, as parliament is expected next Thursday to open confrontation between the Minister of Energy and MP for the Front of Justice and Development, Lakhdar Ben Khellaf, because Youcef Yousfi, who has shown in many occasions resentment to respond to reporters’ questions relating to corruption in Sonatrach, because the minister fears the profitability and reputation of Sonatrach internationally will be affected, because of the rumors about the involvement of senior officials who supervised on its conduct, in corruption cases related to commissions and bribes that were paid to these officials peer-discriminatory treatment in the awarding of contracts for the exploitation of two Italian companies, which are “Saipam” and “Eni”.

Lakhdar Ben Khellaf question was direct to the Minister of Energy, asking him to discloseadministrative procedures that taken by the Ministry of Energy, against suspects in the cases that have emerged these days, so as the suspects engaged in their duties will not affect the course of the investigation, and what are the measures taken to prevent a recurrence of the scenario of corruption inSonatrach.