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The architect who recommended a €77,500 furnishing labeled as "artwork" for the House of Representatives also holds a managerial position at the company that supplied the furniture, according to the Audit Service.
Giota Michail, a spokesperson for the Audit Service, said the finding came during a financial audit of select transactions made by Parliament in 2023.
However, Parliament’s General Director, Tasoula Ieronymidou, rejected the claim in an interview with broadcaster ANT1. She said the furniture was bought from a different store and that the process followed proper procedures.
“A specific professional was commissioned. She prepared the designs and selected the types of furniture,” Ieronymidou said. “All her recommendations were within the pre-approved budget.”
In its report, the Audit Service raised concerns about the process, noting that Parliament used a negotiated procedure without prior publication to directly award the contract for the furniture, an approach permitted only in exceptional cases.
“The justification that the design required the selection of specific high-quality furniture is not considered valid, as such furniture is widely available on the market,” the report stated.
It also flagged a potential conflict of interest, saying: “A further concern is the fact that the architect whose recommendation led to the purchase also holds a directorial position at the company from which the furniture was acquired.”
