Electoral campaign begins in Ecuador amid political crisis

In Ecuador, the campaign for the 2025 general elections began this Monday amid a confrontation between President Daniel Noboa and Vice President Verónica Abad, who in a video mentioned that as of January 5 she was the “president of the Republic.” .

Abad issued his message on Saturday on his own in

The vice president did not explain how she would make her announcement effective, but pointed out that since she was the constitutionally sworn vice president alongside Noboa when she assumed power in 2023, “it is not necessary for any act of possession to occur in the exercise of the presidency, but rather for the supremacy of the Constitution.”

To this end, he added that its exercise required the support of all levels of the State and also referred to the Armed Forces.

However, the military institution responded in a statement that “not being the deliberative Armed Forces, it is our responsibility to abide by the provisions of the acting constitutional president of the Republic, Daniel Noboa Azín.”

Abad has not obtained other support either. A bulletin from the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the National Police mentioned full support for President Noboa and the appointment of Vice President Cynthia Guellibert to replace him during the electoral campaign period.

Noboa had issued a decree before the end of 2024 appointing Verónica Abad as ambassador to the Republic of Turkey to carry out specific economic development tasks for the country, something that she refused to do, and remained in the country to later issue the message. in mentioned video.

He has also not appeared at public events and his office remained closed this Monday with strong police guard. It is still unknown whether or not he will travel to Türkiye to carry out his assigned work.

Given the controversy, the Minister of Government, José de la Gasca, said that “it is not mandatory for the president to take leave. There is no express rule that establishes that the president must take leave,” and clarified that the obligation arises for those who run for re-election and not as in the case of Noboa, who is ending the government period of former president Guillermo Lasso.

Noboa began his campaign with a view to a new presidential term.

[Con información adicional de AP]

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