Bolzano Province Bilingualism Certificate Investigation Targets 1,700 Suspect Exams

A large fraud investigation launched by the public prosecutor’s office in Bolzano has put under scrutiny more than 1,700 bilingual or trilingual language certificates issued between 2020 and May 2026. The certificates are required for public‑service jobs in the autonomous province of South Tyrol.

Guardia di Finanza units carried out raids on three schools in the province of Caserta and on exam sites in Rome linked to TELC, the German‑based language testing organization, seizing documents and computer files. The probe focuses on candidates who allegedly travelled hundreds of kilometres to take exams outside the province.

The health sector is most affected, followed by local and provincial administrations and public transport companies. The controversy has revived calls from the regional advocacy group Team K, represented by provincial councilor Franz Ploner, for a comprehensive reform of the bilingualism testing system, including stricter controls and practical language assessments.