Quito: The Ecuadorian government has suspended Vice President Veronica Abad from her duties, with the decision coming just three months before the 2025 election in which President Daniel Noboa is expected to seek another term. The suspension was issued by Ecuador’s Labor Ministry, alleging Abad committed a “serious” disciplinary violation by disregarding an order from the foreign ministry to leave her post in Israel and relocate to Turkey for security reasons by September 1 amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Abad, who also serves as Ecuador’s ambassador to Israel, did not immediately respond to the suspension. Her lawyer, Damian Armijos, indicated that the decision had been appealed without success. “This behavior will go down in history as an abuse of power above the Constitution, the law, and rights,” Armijos remarked on social media platform X.
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According to the Labor Ministry, Abad’s suspension will last until April, during which time she will not receive a salary. The decision highlights ongoing tensions between Abad and President Noboa, who has faced public disagreements with her in the past.
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Campaigns for Ecuador’s presidential election are set to commence in January. Under Ecuadorian law, Noboa would generally be required to maintain Abad in her role as vice president if he wishes to run for re-election.
