Why does Daniel Noboa want to ‘get rid’ of his vice president Verónica Abad? This is how the enmity was born

Noboa will be a presidential candidate and, as established in article 93 of the Organic Electoral Law, “Dignitaries who opt for immediate re-election to the same position must take unpaid leave.” since the beginning of the electoral campaign.”

The Constitution then provides that “in case of temporary absence in the Presidency of the Republic “Whoever exercises the vice presidency will replace him.”

But the president is currently using every political and legal possibility to prevent Verónica Abad from assuming the mandate between January 5 and February 6, 2025. period established for the electoral campaign.

The Vice Minister of Government, Esteban Torres, publicly stated that “it would be disastrous for the country if a person who does not agree with the vision and actions of the President assumes power, because The first thing it will do, on the first day, is reverse all those victories that the Government has had, especially in the fight against impunity and insecurity.”

Oswaldo Trujillo, lawyer for Vice President Abad, told EL TIEMPO that these statements could constitute a “hate crime.” In his analysis, Trujillo considers that there is constant harassment and attack by the government authorities and the president himself who a few days after assuming the mandate delegated Abad as Peace Commissioner in Israel “to avoid an escalation of violence in the conflict zone and thus try to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.”

Indeed, with no legal alternative and faced with the dilemma of fulfilling the appointment or resigning, Abad went to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians and, since December 10, took up residence in Tel Aviv.

“The vice president is fulfilling a task given to her by the President of the Republic. The Ecuadorian constitution states that the main function of the vice president is to replace
the president and perform other functions that the president himself entrusts to her,” says constitutionalist Xavier Palacios.

There are multiple rumors about the causes that led to the distancing of the presidential duo that assumed power in November 2023. The differences were public since the second electoral round and became more noticeable at the credentials delivery event by the National Electoral Council, when Noboa pointed out in his speech that “the path to the Presidency of the Republic also has betrayals.” Many times from people that one does not even expect, that one chooses; But that’s life, that’s human nature,” he added.

Abad, 48 years old, born in Cuenca, capital of the southern province of Azuay, would have put the presidential victory at risk due to a series of videos in which he declared his affinity for the privatization of public services, minimized violence against women and questioned gender equality.

“I am from the right, a classic liberal, believer in God, the Bible, defender of the individual, family, life, property, limited government, free enterprise and competitiveness, I love freedom and dream of an Ecuador of order, of justice “, of peace and truth, a free, republican and capitalist one… And a lot of damn honor!”, was the self-identification that Abad published on his X account.
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The situation went further when it was learned that Abad was not invited by Noboa to the private celebrations of the presidential victory. and, in a public rudeness, the vice president also did not attend the official inauguration luncheon that Noboa offered at the Carondelet Palace last November and preferred to have lunch in a popular market.

In the midst of the struggle, Abad’s son, Francisco Barreiro, was arrested for alleged influence peddling by handing over public positions in exchange for money. The accused was interned in ‘La Roca’, the maximum security prison in the city of Guayaquil where the leaders of criminal organizations are serving prison sentences, but also high-ranking former officials such as Jorge Glas, former vice president of the Republic; Willman Terán, former president of the Judiciary; and other former judges and assembly members.

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Trujillo assures that the detention in that prison was used as pressure for the vice president to resign and, failing to achieve this, he indicates that an attempt is being made to involve her in the investigation through the Prosecutor’s Office.

Abad, who has declared himself a victim of apolitical violence by Noboa, also blames the president for influencing the decision of the United States Embassy that two weeks ago withdrew his visa.

But, it’s not all. Abad also faces a complaint for electoral violation for campaigning early in a process
where she ran as a candidate for mayor of Cuenca, which could lead to eventual sanctions such as financial fines and even dismissal from office.

According to his lawyer, None of these processes constitute constitutional grounds for his dismissal. “There is no legal way to prevent the vice president from assuming the country’s first office and if she did so in violation of the law, it would be a coup d’état,” Trujillo insisted.

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The legal expert in Human Rights, Diego Peñafiel, agrees with this. “Other possibilities have been outlined, such as his connection to the trial for influence peddling in which his son Francisco Barreiro is currently being prosecuted, a political trial in the National Assembly, or an electoral violation during his candidacy that would allow his dismissal. However, the procedural times are not enough either.”

The constitutionalist Palacios considers that The only possibility for the vice president not to assume power is for her to be criminally sanctioned. or in the electoral field, which would imply that he loses his political rights and that he cannot assume the presidency of the Republic. Otherwise, the presidential succession “has no escape.”

Noboa also plays another card with a consultation with the State Attorney on whether he should take over the presidency or not, arguing that his candidacy would not be a re-election because he is completing a presidential term, the product of early elections.

WhileAbad insists that it is the president’s obligation to “respect and enforce the rights guaranteed in the Constitution. “To look for other solutions would be to violate and violate the supreme norm and that would be unacceptable,” he told local media, insisting that there is no reason that would prevent him from assuming his position.