The GSD has said that it is not surprising that the GSLP who have “engineered delay and obstruction” of the Principal Auditor’s reports over the last few years and “benefitted from it” should now “defend further delay” in the presentation of the latest Report. 

A statement continued: “It is now clear from the Report itself that the Chief Minister received a copy of the Report on 13 June at the same time as “delivery” to Parliament. 

“It is therefore inexplicable why the Report could not have been tabled in Parliament on 23 June 2025 by him 10 days later even if there were “delivery” concerns. 

“In fact, it was tabled by the Chief Minister on 8 July 2025, after the Budget debate, in a move that we predicted on 26 June when we said it looked like the Chief Minister wanted to ensure that the Report did not surface till after that debate. 

“Indeed, the revelations in the Report itself show why they were so desperate to keep the lid on it. 

“The GSD will protect the people of Gibraltar and our constitution. Parliament is supposed to keep the Government in check not defer to it or consult it on practice. It is clear from the Report that it has done that in the past which has given the Principal Auditor cause for concern.”

Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi said: “If things happen that infringe democratic practices or good governance or the constitution we will call it out as we see it. The fact is that the tabling in Parliament was mishandled and could have been resolved much earlier allowing the Report to surface before the Budget debate. The Chief Minister could easily have laid it on the 23 June 2025. He chose not to. In fact, given the insignificant time that has elapsed since its “retrieval” and re-delivery it must be exactly the same report that was delivered and tabled on 8 July. This game of pass the parcel has made a farce of financial good governance and the only beneficiary has been the GSLP Government that it turns out had the Report all the time since 13 June and knew its contents and must have been desperate to keep it out of the public domain during the budget.”