A major scandal has erupted in Spain’s capital region over the awarding of government contracts for repairs and construction in educational institutions. At the center of attention is a former deputy head of the regional secondary education department, who as early as 2021 openly expressed disagreement with the contract awarding process. His internal letter, sent to colleagues, became key evidence in an ongoing investigation involving several high-ranking officials.
In a letter dated December 2021, the official insisted on the need to comply with public procurement laws and strongly opposed carrying out work without an open tender. He claimed that during a meeting in the autumn of that year, he had already warned management about possible violations. Nevertheless, his stance was ignored and work continued under the disputed arrangement.
Investigation launched
The investigation began after, in September 2023, two educational institutions received payment demands from the company Virelec for work that the relevant agency was unaware of. An audit revealed that the company had received nearly four million euros through contracts awarded in violation of regulations. Regional authorities turned to the courts, and several officials are now under investigation.
Investigators are working to determine whether the employees acted on their own initiative or were following orders from the Ministry of Education’s leadership. The prosecutor’s office has already stated that there are indications of both administrative and criminal violations, and the judge has not ruled out the possibility of opening a case for abuse of office. Auditors concluded that contracts had been deliberately split into smaller parts to avoid the mandatory public tender process, placing responsibility on the Ministry of Education.
Leadership disputes
The scandal has sparked serious disagreements among key figures in the regional government. In particular, former Minister of Education Enrique Ossorio and his deputy Rocío Albert have come under scrutiny. The former deputy head of the department, who sent the warning letter, claims that he received no information about further actions after December 2021 and tried not to participate in questionable decisions.
At the same time, another high-ranking official who also received the letter insists that he saw no signs of wrongdoing and gave no orders to carry out work outside legal procedures. He claims his actions were completely transparent and in full compliance with established rules.
Internal correspondence and testimony
A key part of the investigation was the internal correspondence between employees of the education department. These emails formed the basis of the charges and became the focus of the inquiry. They detailed concerns about the legality of the contracts being signed and called for strict adherence to procedures.
Despite internal warnings, renovation and construction work at educational institutions continued, and contracts were repeatedly awarded to the same company. This raised questions not only among auditors but also with prosecutors, who are now trying to determine who made the crucial decisions and why internal warnings about possible violations were ignored.
Response and consequences
The scandal has already resulted in serious consequences for several officials, some of whom have been suspended or have resigned. Regional authorities emphasize that they intend to see the investigation through to the end and punish all those responsible. Meanwhile, debates continue within the government over who bears the main responsibility for what happened.
As the investigation continues, public debates over the transparency of government procurement and the need to tighten control over public spending show no sign of abating. This case has become yet another reminder of the importance of internal oversight and accountability for officials at all levels.
RUSSPAIN.COM reports that José María Serrano served as Deputy Head of Secondary Education in Madrid until his retirement in 2025. His name became widely known after he was the first to publicly speak out about possible violations in the government contracts allocation system. Virelec, the company mentioned in the investigation, specializes in construction and renovation work for educational institutions. Madrid authorities continue to cooperate with the investigation and have promised full transparency going forward.
