Thursday’s protests in Quito against the policies of President Daniel Noboa ended up with a dozen arrests and reports of police attacks on demonstrators, while the government rejected what it called “violent and vandalistic acts.”

Social organisations such as the United Workers’ Front and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), as well as the Regional Consultative Foundation for Human Rights (INREDH), condemned the repression of the demonstrators and the arrests of activists.

One of the reasons for the demonstration was rejection of the government’s handling of the energy crisis, which has led to power cuts of up to 14 hours a day for the past two months, unemployment and economic losses.

President Daniel Noboa had promised the blackouts would end by December this year, although there is scepticism about this promise as companies contracted to purchase thermal energy have announced delays in the arrival of generators.

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s temporarily suspended vice president Verónica Abad arrived in Quito from Türkeye on Wednesday in what she described as an “act of rebellion.”

She described the administrative measure, which will see her suspended for 150 days without pay, as a violation of the constitution and an attack on the independence of the branches of government.

Almost a year ago, Abad left Ecuador for Israel on the orders of Noboa, who appointed her ambassador and collaborator for peace, and on 9 November she was sanctioned by the Ministry of Labour for “unjustified abandonment of work” for failing to complete her transfer from Tel Aviv to Ankara within the set time. mh/rgh/avr