In the midst of Ecuador's upcoming election campaign, President Daniel Noboa finds himself entangled in a power struggle with his estranged deputy, Vice President Veronica Abad. Noboa, who is not seeking reelection but was elected last year to complete his predecessor's term, is facing pressure to hand over power to Abad as the campaign season officially kicks off on Jan. 5.
The situation escalated after Noboa's attempt to remove Abad from office was blocked by a judge, prompting the president to order her relocation to Turkey as a temporary economic attache by Dec. 27. However, Abad condemned this move as an "exile" and accused Noboa of attempting a coup by refusing to relinquish power to her.
In response, Minister of Government Jose de la Gasca defended Noboa's decision, citing a 2010 ruling by Ecuador's constitutional court that the president is not obligated to request a leave of absence as he is not a candidate in the upcoming election. De la Gasca emphasized that the power transfer is at the discretion of the president, setting the stage for a potential clash as the vote approaches on Feb. 9.
Abad, determined to challenge Noboa's policies if given the opportunity to stand-in as president, warned of the dangers of violating the constitutional order and accused the president of paving the way for a dictatorship. With polls indicating a likely runoff between Noboa and left-wing candidate Luisa Gonzalez in April, the power struggle between Noboa and Abad adds a volatile element to the already tense political climate in Ecuador.