Court rejects VP Abad’s challenge to Noboa’s decrees

A criminal court in Quito has rejected Vice President Verónica Abad challenge of three decrees signed by President Daniel Noboa. A three-judge criminal court panel ruled that Abad’s claim of personal and professional damage “had not been demonstrated or verified” and noted that two of the three presidential decrees are no longer in effect.

Vice President Verónica Abad

The court also said that Abad failed to prove that Noboa’s actions caused a “loss of effectiveness” in her role of vice president.

The judges deliberated for six hours Wednesday before announcing the unanimous decision.

The court also dismissed Abad’s claim that her assignment by Noboa to duties at the Ecuadorian embassy in Ankara, Turkey, violated her constitutional rights. “Under the law, the president is entitled to make assignments he determines are in the interest of the country,” the judges wrote.

Regarding the application by Noboa of “force majeure” to delegate vice presidential duties to former Secretary of Administration Cynthia Gellibert, and to assign her presidential duties while he campaigns, the judges ruled that the issue must be taken before the contentious electoral court.

Abad and her attorneys said they will appeal the decision to the Constitutional Court.