By Deutsche Welle
The Ecuadorian government said it sees an attempt at destabilization and a coup d’état in the electoral complaint for political gender violence filed on Monday by Vice President Verónica Abad against President Daniel Noboa, both of whom are irreconcilably at odds.
Abad’s accusation, which could lead to Noboa’s eventual dismissal and suspension of political rights for four years, “is a crude attempt at destabilization, and blatantly constitutes a clear attempt at a coup d’état,” said the Minister of Government, Michele Sensi, in a statement.
“Veronica Abad’s attitude is not surprising. It has been clear for some time that she does not share the values or principles of this Government,” Sensi added in the letter, after emphasizing that, for Noboa’s Executive, the accusation of the Vice President “is a desperate attempt to gain power at any cost.”
“The level of desperation of those behind this complaint is shameful, as they delegitimize the popular will expressed at the polls and want to prevent his (Noboa’s) electoral participation when they see that they have no other alternative,” concluded the minister.
A “very serious” electoral violation
The complaint of political gender violence filed by Abad against Noboa fell on Tuesday to the office of Judge Fernando Muñoz, who was removed on Monday as president of the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE), where the case is being processed.
Abad’s complaint could be considered a “very serious” electoral violation, which is punishable by the suspension of political rights for two to four years, dismissal from office and a fine.
This situation is part of the controversy that has surrounded both authorities shortly after they ran in tandem for last year’s electoral process, elections called early by the conservative former president Guillermo Lasso, who did not complete his term (2021-2025).
The distance between Noboa and Abad had already been noted during the electoral campaign for those elections, whose last joint activity was their swearing-in last November.
After assuming the leadership of the State, Noboa appointed Abad as the country’s plenipotentiary ambassador to Israel, with the mission of seeking peace in that region of the world, although the distance did not calm the dispute between the two.
President seeks re-election
Noboa has announced that he will run for re-election to remain in power for a full four-year term, but he fears leaving the post to Abad who, according to internal regulations, must take over the post during the period of leave that the ruler must request to dedicate himself to the electoral campaign.
According to executive authorities, it would be “disastrous” for Abad to replace Noboa in office during the electoral campaign, since it could disrupt the plans of his administration.
Abad also faces a complaint before the Electoral Disputes Court for an alleged irregularity in the 2023 local elections, when she stood as a candidate for mayor of the Andean city of Cuenca.
Continue reading:
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