In Andalusia, the investigation into the emergency contracts signed during the pandemic is ongoing. Judge José Antonio Gómez has summoned the Environmental Advisor, Catalina García, to testify. She is being asked to clarify whether she initiated changes to the contract oversight procedure in 2020, when she served as Deputy Health Advisor.
At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, regional authorities decided to abolish the mandatory pre-approval of contracts related to medical services. Instead, oversight was shifted to the post-signing stage. This decision affected deals worth 242 million euros signed with private medical companies. Notably, no formal written justifications were provided, and the initiative was communicated verbally by García to then Deputy Finance Advisor Roberto Ochoa.
Ochoa himself was also summoned to court alongside García. Both are expected to explain how the decision to change the oversight process was made and why it was implemented without the necessary documentation. Another concern is that the discussion took place during a meeting of the so-called ‘Consejillo’—an informal committee where deputy advisors prepare materials for subsequent approval by the Andalusian government.
The investigation is placing particular emphasis on the lack of official reports and protocols that would normally accompany such decisions. Amid the state of emergency caused by the pandemic, authorities sought to expedite the procurement process. However, the court is now seeking to determine whether procedures were violated and if this led to any misconduct.
The questioning of García and Ochoa may shed light on who was directly responsible for removing the preliminary oversight and how this impacted the allocation of public funds. The court case is ongoing, and its outcome could have serious consequences for the leadership of the autonomous region.
