60% of public contracts awarded directly

(ANSA) - Rome, February 26 - Some 60% of public works or services contracts are awarded directly rather than through a competitive tender process, the national anti-corruption authority said Thursday.
    This translates into 34.66% of the total value of all contracts awarded according to figures extrapolated from data pertaining to contracts worth over 40,000 euros awarded by Italy's 20 regional capitals in the period 2011-2014.
    In 50% of the cities monitored the local authorities awarded contracts directly in over 80% of cases.
    In Rome contracts were awarded directly in 86.51% of cases, in Milan in 83.33% of cases and in Florence in 87.21% of cases. In regards to the figures, the anti-corruption authority highlighted a "critical situation" in relation to "the excessive use of such a procedure".