Assembly asks Supreme Court for Comptroller ouster

PANAMA’S National Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesdaym August 27, asking the Supreme Court to remove Comptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini from office.

The resolution was presented by the Panameñista and PRD parties. Members of the opposition CD claimed the move to remove the comptroller is illegal.
According to the resolution, the Assembly will forward authenticated copies to the court. The resolution states that “statements expressed by the comptroller may eventually constitute crimes against public administration.” The resolution also states that the Assembly believes there were “serious omissions” from responses given by the comptroller when she appeared before the Assembly. Before the proposal was put to a vote, CD Deputy Mario Miller asked to speak. He immediately questioned the decision to alter the agenda to include the discussion of the proposal. According to Miller, the Assembly’s attempts to have the comptroller resign during her appearance last week failed, so now they are “forcing” her to be removed. He also said that the resolution “violates the constitution and the law” because “it constitutes an intervention by another organ of the state.” The comptroller has been questioned about cost overruns in projects, her endorsement of controversial projects and the increase in public debt.
She was appointed to the post by former president Ricardo Martinelli for whom she had worked for 15 years.