Left- and right-wing politicians, legal experts and analysts described the measure imposed against Ecuador’s vice-president as illegal and unconstitutional. They consider that only the Assembly can take a decision regarding a popularly elected position. Abad denounced that the president is preparing a coup d’état to re-elect himself in 2025.
‘They intend to disqualify me for five months for an offence not committed and without any proof, with the sole objective of preventing me from assuming the presidency of the Republic when the president-candidate enters his electoral campaign’, said the vice-president of Ecuador, Verónica Abad.
She has said this based on the sanction she received of being suspended for 150 days without pay following an administrative process.
This decision has caused controversy in the legal field. The Minister of Labour, Ivonne Núñez, affirmed that Abad is not disqualified, but temporarily suspended and ‘enjoys all her political rights’. Despite these statements, the head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Jaime Vela, referred to Abad as ‘ex-vice president’ and said at a press conference that her security would be withdrawn.
However, the military institution issued a communiqué shortly afterwards in which they retracted their statement and confirmed that they would continue to protect the deputy governor.
Meanwhile, President Daniel Noboa made official, through Executive Decree 457, the appointment of Sariha Moya, current national secretary of Planning, as vice-president in charge, and explained that she will occupy the position during the maximum period of Abad’s temporary absence.
Noboa repealed the decree that appointed Abad as ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ecuador to the State of Israel’.
‘The conflict surrounding the vice-president has highlighted tensions within the executive, fuelling public speculation about the handling of her suspension and the future of her political role,’ Radio Pichincha commented.
Abad’s defence asked the National Assembly (Parliament) to audit the Presidency of the Republic for the controversial administrative process against him.
According to the Ministry of Labour, the ‘serious misconduct’ that warranted the sanction of the official was the ‘unjustified abandonment of work for three or more consecutive working days’ by failing to comply with the foreign ministry’s order for her transfer from Israel to Turkey within a set period of time.
(Translated by Cristina Popa – Email: gcpopa83@gmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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