Principal Auditor's reporting on GDC officer is unconstitutional witch hunt, says Chief Minister

An ex-gratia payment to one particular Gibraltar Development Corporation officer has been the entire focus of the Chief Minister’s day seven response to the Principal Auditor’s report.

He stressed the Auditor spent 12 pages of his report looking into the 260,000 pound payment to GDC officer, whom GBC has previously confirmed to be Joelle Baglietto.

Fabian Picardo called it an unprecedented approach and "a witch hunt" by Tony Sacramento.

He said the report's investigation into the officer's political activism and beliefs goes against our Constitution, and challenges our democracy.

Day seven of the Chief Minister’s response to the Principal auditor’s report, and he said it was only right Government should spend the same amount of time dealing with one particular Ex-Gratia payment as the Prinicipal Auditor did.

In his 2018-2019 report, Tony Sacramento looked into a 260,000 pound settlement with a Gibraltar Development Corporation officer.

GBC understands the officer to be Joelle Baglietto.

In today’s address the Chief Minister said the level of analysis on this particular case and not others was peculiar.

He set out to demonstrate the settlement agreed with Ms Baglietto was proper.

Mr Picardo claimed the Government saved around half the sum that could have been ordered in liability against the tax payer if the matter had progressed further.

Fabian Picardo described the lack of response time provided by the Principal Auditor to some of his letters as unfair and improper audit practice.

He said Tony Sacramento’s highlighting of Ms Baglietto’s political activism in the report was not within the auditor’s powers.

Fabian Picardo said he was defending an underlying democratic principle: the right to political belief.

Mr Picardo said this officer was singled out for political activism by the auditor while others have not been.

He called this unconstitutional, illegal, discriminatory, party political and lacking any semblance of impartiality.

The Chief Minister also criticised GBC's reporting on the investigation, for posing the question "why was [Joelle Baglietto's] political activism allowed?"

Fabian Picardo said instead, the national broadcaster should have asked why she was singled out, what power the Auditor has to address these matters, and which other public servants are politically active.

Parliament is now adjourned till the 5th of November at 10.30 in the morning.