The Andalusian authorities have found themselves at the center of a high-profile story involving the awarding of a contract without a tender to well-known singer José Manuel Soto. Despite intense public and political scrutiny, the regional government found no violations in processing the agreement for the Senderos del Rocío tourism project. However, it has come to light that Soto faces financial claims: he has received a bill for €30,000 for improper expenses related to two subsidies totaling €550,000.
Last year, Andalusia’s anti-corruption agency launched an investigation following a complaint from the Por Andalucía party. The inquiry focused on possible violations in the direct awarding of a so-called ‘minor contract’ worth €14,762 to Soto without a public tender. Following an internal review, authorities have now stated that all documentation was completed correctly and that the contract itself complies with public procurement legislation. The final decision on the matter will be made by the Consultative Council, which is set to review the case soon. Meanwhile, a criminal investigation related to this episode is ongoing in the Seville court.
Project Details
Senderos del Rocío is a network of 12 tourist routes crossing all of Andalusia, leading to the famous El Rocío chapel. The project was inspired by the popular pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago. Last year, authorities spent 722,000 euros developing the routes in Huelva province. It was Soto’s team that developed these routes, which drew close scrutiny from the opposition and anti-corruption agencies.
Initially, the anti-corruption service recommended canceling the contract, citing “serious violations”—in their opinion, rather than direct assignment, a tender should have been held with at least three companies participating. Additionally, Camino de Andalucía SL, the company founded by Soto, was registered to carry out musical activities, not tourism, which also raised concerns among inspectors. However, after the authorities conducted their own review, the anti-corruption agency dropped the investigation, stating that further responsibility now rests with the Andalusian government.
Political tensions
The opposition’s response was swift. Representatives of Por Andalucía stated that the authorities had prematurely announced the case’s closure, as no final decision had yet been made. They also promised to submit additional materials to the Advisory Council, including videos featuring Soto in which he discusses the subsidies he received. Meanwhile, representatives of Adelante Andalucía expressed doubts about the independence of the anti-corruption body, reminding that its leadership is appointed by the ruling party.
In addition to the contract itself, the authorities raised concerns about the expenditure of funds from two subsidies granted to Soto. Officials believe that some expenses—such as those for website development and marketing—did not align with the grant’s intended purpose. The singer tried to challenge these claims, but his arguments were rejected, and the case has now been handed over to the tax authorities. In response, Soto has filed a lawsuit in court to avoid paying the disputed amount.
Personal opinion and political undertones
José Manuel Soto himself believes that this whole affair is nothing more than a political attack by left-wing parties. According to him, he acted within the law, and all the claims are a result of bureaucratic errors made during the paperwork process. The singer claims that although his company’s charter did not mention tourism activities, in his view, this should not have hindered the project’s implementation.
Soto is also convinced that the real target of the critics is not himself but Andalusia’s president, Juanma Moreno. According to the artist, the opposition is simply looking for an excuse to put pressure on the regional leadership. He admits that his public statements and criticisms of politicians have made him an easy target for attacks. Recalling the 2023 scandal when he sharply criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Soto notes that even his apologies did not help—the resentment lingered, and now he has to pay the price for his candor.
A look from the outside
Interestingly, despite all the turmoil, Soto has no intention of entering politics, even though he has received offers from right-wing parties. He believes that political infighting in Spain has gone too far and society has become a hostage to the confrontation between parties. In his view, that’s why even seemingly technical matters—such as granting subsidies for tourism projects—turn into subjects of heated disputes and investigations.
This whole story is a vivid example of how bureaucratic errors, political ambition, and personal relationships can become entangled in a knot that is difficult to unravel. The legality of Soto’s contract remains unresolved, and the controversy around it only seems to be heating up.
