Abad’s accusation before the Electoral Contentious Court (TCE), which calls for ousting Noboa from office and his suspension from political participation for four years, “is a crude attempt at destabilization and blatantly constitutes a clear attempt at a coup d’état”, Sensi-Contugi stressed.

In a statement, the minister who does not usually issue public pronouncements, said that “the level of contempt of those behind this allegation is shameful, as they delegitimize the popular will expressed on the ballot.”

Other members of Noboa’s cabinet came out this Wednesday to defend the head of State on social networks, after Abad’s denunciation, who was assigned to Israel as Ambassador as the press has disseminated this week that the vice president and Noboa didn’t get along.

The accusation of political gender violence includes Noboa and three members of his team: Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld; Deputy Minister of Government Esteban Torres and the Presidential Advisor Diana Jácome.

This infraction is considered “very serious” and is sanctioned with the suspension of political rights from two to four years, dismissal, and a fine.

Judge Fernando Muñoz, recently ousted as head of the Court, will be in charge of processing the complaint.

The disagreements between the two main heads of the Ecuadorean Executive became evident after the elections. On December 8, 2023, a few days after taking office, Noboa sent Abad to Tel Aviv as Ambassador and collaborator for peace.

Last week, the president ordered the temporary transfer of the Vice President to Türkiye, even after the Foreign Ministry urged Ecuadoreans in Lebanon, Israel, or Palestine to leave those countries due to the conflicts in the region.

Meanwhile, the Court is expecting another case to process this time against Abad for alleged electoral infringement, and should she lose it, she will not be able to take office when Noboa asks for leave to campaign for his reelection.

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