Ecuador: Vice-President Faces Charges of Electoral Infringement

Ecuadorian Vice President, Veronica Abad, July 2024 Photo: @SufragioLatam

July 17, 2024 Hour: 3:50 pm

Guarderas accuses Abad of an alleged electoral offence, when she had aspirations to be a candidate for mayor of the city of Cuenca, in the province of Azuay, in 2022.

On Wednesday, the vice-president of Ecuador, Verónica Abad, faced a complaint for electoral infringement, after the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) approved the complaint against her.

The complaint against the vice-mandate was filed by the councilor for Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs), Juan Esteban Guarderas, last May.

Guarderas accuses Abad of an alleged electoral offence, when she had aspirations to be a candidate for mayor of the city of Cuenca, in the province of Azuay, in 2022.

The TCE announced that the single oral hearing of evidence and allegations will take place on 15 August. The institution also warned that “if the accused does not appear on the appointed day, the hearing will be held in absentia” and her defense will be assumed by a public defender.

Es un hecho, la vicepresidenta Verónica Abad enfrentará una denuncia por presunta infracción electoral. La jueza del Tribunal Contencioso Electoral (TCE), Ivonne Coloma, admitió a trámite la denuncia presentada por el consejero de Participación Ciudadana, Juan Esteban Guarderas. pic.twitter.com/ObQZaUwyP3
— LA ÚLTIMA (@LaUltima_Ec) July 17, 2024

Abad recently blamed President Daniel Noboa for the lawsuit against him imposed by Guarderas and described as “harassment” the government’s actions to get him to resign, so that he would not have to take over the presidency when Noboa campaigns for the 2025 presidential elections, he said.

On Monday, the Ecuadorian vice-president reiterated that assuming the presidency of the country while the president participates in the 2025 general elections “is not a whim, it is established by law”.

In statements to the radio station Radio Morena, Abad considered himself a “victim of lawfare” and questioned the actions of the Executive against him.

Last week, Noboa affirmed that, when appropriate, he will make a decision in accordance with the Constitution in order to be able to participate in the 2025 elections without handing over power to the vice-president.

According to the president in an interview, Abad – who is currently serving as ambassador to Israel – “will leave the vice-presidency on her own”.

On 8 December, Abad travelled to Israel to serve as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Tel Aviv and collaborator for peace, according to Noboa’s order, an appointment that was questioned by the official and various political and human rights organizations.