Opposition should be more respectful of Parliament – Govt

The Chief Minister has accused the Opposition of “misrepresenting” the state of Gibraltar’s public finances as the row over plans to increase the public debt limit continued yesterday.

In a statement the Gibraltar Government said the GSD should be “more respectful of Parliament”, adding that the proposed Bill can be debated in Parliament in February.

“The Government does not consider it an urgent Bill that needs to be certified as one to be passed after less than six weeks of its publication,” No 6 Convent Place said.

The Government stressed that it is in Parliament that all the relevant arguments can be considered by MPs who will then be able to determine whether or not to support the Bill.

“That in itself demonstrates that there is no urgent issue to deal with, as Daniel Feetham purported to suggest, once again fanning the flames of fear in his usual attempts to scaremonger in relation to public finances,” the statement added.

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: "I am surprised and disappointed at the manner in which the GSD has decided to go about their consideration of this Bill. They have not even waited for the debate in Parliament before pouncing, with made up arguments, once again trying to misrepresent the state of Gibraltar’s public finances.”

“What is remarkable is that a party that went to an election talking about raising the debt ceiling should be taking issue with this Government’s more conservative amendment. "