Anti-graft chief blasts new rules for public contracts

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 29 - Giuseppe Busia, the head of Italian anti-corruption agency ANAC, expressed criticism on Wednesday of the new public procurement code that Premier Giorgia Meloni's cabinet approved on Tuesday.
    Among other things, the new code seeks to simplify the rules for the assignment of public contracts, streamlining procedures for documentation with the help of digital mechanisms.
    The government says it will reduce the time needed to run a tender process by six months to a year.
    Busia picked fault with the scope officials and politicians will have in some cases to give a contract to a firm without going through a tender process.
    "The biggest dark area is that, under 150,000 euros, free rein is given," Busia told State broadcaster Rai.
    "It says consult the market, choose the firm that you want, which means you'll take the nearest company, the one that you know, not the one that is the best performer.
    "Under 150,000, your cousin or someone who voted for you is fine. This is the problem, especially in small towns".
    Busia added that cutting down 'red tape' is not always a good thing.
    "We have to eliminate the negative bureaucracy that holds projects back, we all agree on that," he said.
    "But we can't eliminate the bureaucracy that runs checks so things are done properly, that runs checks to make sure rights are protected, that runs checks so that money is well spent, to protect everyone who works on the sites and makes sure they use the right materials.
    "That way, the money is better spent, rights are not breached, the finished projects last longer and competition is respected".
    (ANSA).