Tensions have escalated in Ecuador after Vice President Verónica Abad filed a complaint against President Daniel Noboa, accusing him of gender-based political violence.

The accusation, which could result in Noboa’s dismissal and the suspension of his political rights for up to four years, has been described by the government as a destabilizing move and an attempted coup d’état. 

Interior Minister Michele Sensi said in an official statement that “Verónica Abad’s attitude is not surprising” and that “she has long shown she does not share the government’s values or principles.” Sensi added that the complaint represents “a desperate attempt to seize power at any cost.” 

He further argued that those behind the complaint aim to “undermine the people’s democratic will” and block Noboa’s re-election campaign. “The level of desperation shown is shameful,” Sensi declared. 

The case was assigned to Judge Fernando Muñoz, who had just been removed from his position as president of the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE), where the proceedings are taking place. Under Ecuadorian law, this type of accusation may be considered a “very serious” electoral offense, punishable by the suspension of political rights, removal from office, and a substantial fine. 

The conflict between Noboa and Abad dates back to last year’s election, when they ran together as a ticket in early elections called by former president Guillermo Lasso. Their political alliance quickly deteriorated, revealing deep ideological and personal differences. 

Inside the Noboa–Abad conflict

After taking office in November, Noboa appointed Abad as Ecuador’s plenipotentiary ambassador to Israel to promote peace in the region. However, the geographic distance did little to ease tensions between them. 

Noboa’s announcement that he will seek re-election has intensified the situation. By law, he must take a temporary leave to campaign, which would make Abad the acting president. Members of the administration have warned that such a scenario could “destabilize the government’s agenda.” 

Government sources claim that Abad’s complaint is politically motivated, seeking to weaken Noboa’s legitimacy before the elections. Meanwhile, Abad herself faces an investigation by the TCE for alleged irregularities in the 2023 local elections, when she ran for mayor of Cuenca. 

1.- Pretención de destitución del cargo y suspensión de derechos de participación.
2.- Oswaldo Trujillo, abogado patrocinador de Verónica Abad, defensor de las mafias.
3.- Respaldo al intento de Golpe de Estado.
4.- Votación de los partidos que no permitieron que se levante el… pic.twitter.com/YOylVaOYW7

— Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) August 15, 2024

This internal struggle underscores the institutional fragility of Ecuador, a country marked by recurring political crises and leadership clashes. If the dispute intensifies, the nation could once again face a period of instability reminiscent of past upheavals. 

For now, Ecuadorians watch anxiously as the confrontation between the president and his vice president threatens to disrupt governance, at a time when the nation urgently needs political unity to address economic hardship and rising insecurity.