Assembly calls for firing of “incompetent” comptroller

AFTER two days of grilling in the National Assembly of Comptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini, government and opposition deputies who had been questioning her prepared a draft resolution asking the Supreme Court to remove her from office for “gross negligence and incompetence.”

The proposal was announced in the Assembly by Panameñista Luis Barria, in the presence of Torres de Bianchini, who had appeared for a second day to address questions from Members.
The reason for requesting the removal is that Torres de Bianchini, after failing to respond fully to questions, has proven to be negligent in the performance of her duties.
The Assembly appointed the comptroller but, according to the Constitution she can only be dismissed by the Court.
In the proposed resolution, legislators also ask that if the judges have no immediate response, she be temporarily suspended from office until a final judgment is entered. The deputy Democratic Change (CD), Mario Miller, complained of the proposal. “It is reckless and Machiavellian” he said.
The comptroller who was ending her tenure December 31. said she was affected. “I’m very sad, yes … I am upset because I have done well,” she told the full Assembly, reports La Prensa.