[MAGHAREBIA] Algerian politicians on Monday (March 4th) responded to the inauguration of the headquarters of the Central Office to Combat Corruption (OCRC).Finance Minister Karim Djoudi at Sunday's opening expressed the state's commitment to "stop at nothing to fight corruption or any other type of economic crime".
The office's headquarters came at a time where the Algerian press has exposed several financial scandals, the most significant case being state energy giant Sonatrach.
OCRC President Abdelmalik Sayeh said that his organization was there "to rectify the issue".
"Since big corruption cases are a proven nuisance to the national economy, they will be a priority for the office," Sayeh said in a blurb.
OCRC is an operational tool to combat the embezzlement of public funds. It was set up in 2011 as a central criminal investigation department responsible for searching and reporting offenses to their relevant jurisdictions.
The office "addresses cases passed down by official authorities, in addition to denunciation letters from the people", Sayeh said.
The office can refer the case to itself "when cases are exposed by the press and have become international matters", he added.
National Council President Abdelkader Bensalah emphasised the need "to get to the bottom of corruption".
"It tarnishes the image of Algeria and overlooks the country's massive accomplishments in multiple areas," he added.
Workers' Party (PT) leader Louisa Hanoune on Saturday pointed out the need to take firm and "coercive measures against the individuals implicated in corruption and the need to initiate an urgent political reform to shed the light on the handling of public funds".
"It was inconceivable to overlook information that addressed scandals and embezzlement of public funds," National Republican Alliance head Belkacem Sahli said on Saturday calling on public authorities to "be present in these matters in order to face corruption".