The government approved new rules exempting public contracts under 10 million euros from prior approval by the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas or TdC). Minister Gonçalo Saraiva Matias stated the reform aims to reduce bureaucracy, though the move faces opposition from Chega, which labeled the potential change an invitation to corruption. The government maintains that the adjustment is a responsible step to modernize public management.
Government eases Court of Auditors oversight for contracts
Thursday, 9 April 2026AI summary

Context & Explainers
The TdC (Tribunal de Contas) is the Court of Auditors, an independent body responsible for overseeing public spending and ensuring the legality of state financial management. It performs prior audits on high-value public contracts to prevent misuse of funds before they are finalized.
Sources (5)
- Prior approval from the Court of Auditors no longer required for contracts under 10 million. But that is not allECO · 5:26pm, 9 Apr 2026
- Court of Auditors' prior approval no longer required for contracts under 10 million eurosPúblico · 5:54pm, 9 Apr 2026
- Government implements reform to curb "undue expansion of jurisdiction" of the Court of AuditorsDinheiro Vivo · 6:00pm, 9 Apr 2026
- Government wants to exempt contracts of up to 10 million euros from prior approval by the Court of AuditorsCorreio da Manhã · 5:51pm, 9 Apr 2026
- Court of Auditors fines former administrator of Theatro Circo de BragaObservador · 4:45pm, 9 Apr 2026




