Albacete City Council faces controversy over sculpture restoration contract

The Socialist Party (PSOE) in Albacete has demanded explanations from Mayor Manuel Serrano regarding a contract to restore a sculpture by the local artist José Luis Sánchez. The municipal group alleges irregularities in the procurement process, describing it as a “tailor-made” file designed to favor a specific workshop.

Socialist councilor María José López Ortega pointed to chronological anomalies, noting that the selected company submitted its budget in February 2026, while the technical report justifying the minor contract was not drafted until March 16. She further claimed the report literally reproduced the text, object, and price proposed by the winning company. Additionally, the PSOE questioned why a lower bid from another artist was not included in the proceedings.

The Albacete City Council has rejected these accusations, defending both the procedure used and the selection of the company. The administration frames the project as part of an effort to recover the city’s artistic heritage in conjunction with the centenary of José Luis Sánchez’s birth.