Audit court investigates alleged irregularities in public procurement contracts

Monday 27 April 2026 - 11:00

The national audit institution has launched a series of investigations following suspicions of irregular practices in public procurement contracts related to audits and consultancy studies.

According to early findings, several consultancy firms may have participated in tenders through multiple affiliated companies, sometimes managed through proxies. These practices have raised concerns about compliance with competition rules and equal access to public contracts.

The case involves firms operating in the fields of accounting and financial consultancy, where inspectors identified potential breaches of professional regulations. Some experts are suspected of submitting bids under different legal entities while maintaining control over several linked structures, a practice that could undermine independence and transparency in the sector.

The Cour des comptes has reviewed financial documents, tax records, and legal authorizations, revealing that some professionals appear to manage multiple firms simultaneously, despite legal restrictions limiting such arrangements.

Investigators also reported possible conflicts of interest, including cases where different bids submitted to public tenders originated from the same economic group. This situation may have distorted competition and reduced opportunities for other market participants.

In addition, some reports suggest the existence of informal links between certain consulting firms and public officials, raising further concerns about fairness in the awarding of contracts. Authorities are now examining repeated patterns in government contracts awarded to a small number of firms.

The investigation also revisits earlier government guidelines calling for stricter control of consultancy and audit contracts, including requirements for prior authorization and better coordination of studies to avoid duplication and unnecessary public spending.

If confirmed, these practices could represent a serious violation of transparency, integrity, and good governance principles in public procurement management.