Is former Jimena Mayor a close advisor to Fabian Picardo?

José Carracao
(Photo: europasur.es)

GIBRALTAR According to El Confidencial Digital (EDC), Former Jimena Mayor José Carracao has admitted that he is advising his fellow Socialist Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, and has been  for some time. Still according to  EDC, among Carracao's functions is advice about, and as an intermediary with, businesses in Andalucía and the political structure of Melilla and Ceuta, Carracao's home province (and where his son heads the PSOE party). However, a source very close to Picardo told us last night that this is not so, that there is no official appointment, although Carracao and the Chief Minister 'talk often'.>>>
Picardo's would-be advisor has a long Socialist political CV in Andalucía: he was the mayor of Jimena from 1979 to 1994, President of the Mancomunidad de Municipios, which he helped found, from 1986 to 1999. 

He became a national Senator after that and PSOE spokesperson on the senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, a post that lasted for the three legislative periods prior to the present one.

Still according to the online publication (ECD), Carracao has helped the Chief Minister to establish connections and realtionships with a number of busineses in the Campo de Gibraltar, as well as on the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

'I am an advisor but I want to keep it secret'

ECD says that Carracao has told various PSOE leaders and militants that he is indeed an advisor to Picardo, but he understands there are several people in hispolitical milieu who would not be pleased about his Gibraltar job.

The 'political advisors on Spain-related matters', as he likes to call himself among the politicians who know his secret, has on many occasions commented that he is Picardo's consultant but 'wants to keep it a secret.'

A report in Europa Sur today, is headlined: 'Jimena exMayor denies being an intermediary on any matter, but not not his 'affection' for Gibraltar's Chief Minister.' In the article, he categorically denies the accusations that appeared in ECD this morning.

It should be said that El Confidencial Digital is an online publication of the religious Right, and much in favour by Mariano Rajoy's Partido Popular, which is intent on stirring up matters regarding territorial waters.