Ecuador's vice president suspended amid tensions with president Noboa ahead of elections
Ecuador's Labor Ministry has temporarily suspended Vice President Veronica Abad from office for 150 days, just months before the country’s elections in February 2025.
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, is linked to accusations that Abad failed to comply with an official order from Ecuador's Foreign Ministry to leave Israel and travel to Turkey before September 1, due to security concerns amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The Ministry's resolution, issued Friday and made public on Saturday, accuses Abad of committing a "serious" disciplinary offence by abandoning her duties.
Abad, who also serves as Ecuador’s ambassador to Israel, was ordered to leave Israel amid escalating violence in the region.
However, she reportedly argued that she was not "properly prepared" for the trip to Turkey and raised concerns about being asked to leave her children behind in Israel.
Abad’s legal team has strongly contested the suspension. Her lawyer, Dominique Davila, called the decision “extremely serious” and questioned its legal basis.
Abad’s legal representative, Damian Armijos, argued that "this behavior will go down in history as an abuse of power above the Constitution, the law and rights."
The timing of the suspension adds to the ongoing political tensions between Abad and President Daniel Noboa, with whom she has had a strained working relationship.
Although both hold high offices, the pair’s feud has been simmering for years. The suspension of Abad comes just as Ecuador gears up for its upcoming elections, where President Noboa is seeking re-election.
Local election laws require the Vice President to remain in office during the electoral campaign, which is set to begin in January.
Abad, who remains suspended without pay until April, is now effectively removed from her post during a crucial period in Ecuador’s political calendar. As the country prepares for elections, this development could have significant implications.
