Ecuador - November 2024

Vice-President Verónica Abad was suspended from her post for 150 days by the Ministry of Labour for allegedly abandoning her employment without justification, because she was late to comply a presidential decree ordering her to relocate to Ankara from Israel. Constitutional lawyers have criticized the Labour Ministry’s unprecedented decision given that, as an elected vice-president, she could only be dismissed on these grounds if the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly confirmed the abandonment, or in accordance with other constitutional procedures, such as impeachment. Abad had been in Israel after President Daniel Noboa ordered her to act as Ecuador’s envoy for peace in Israel. Abad expressed her belief that the suspension is intended to prevent her from succeeding as president when Noboa runs for re-election in February 2025, as he is required to resign in order to campaign. She has also accused Noboa of political gender-based violence, and pressure.

Sources: Primicias (1), El Pais, El Economista, Infobae, Voice of America, Swiss Info, Primicias (2)