Noboa’s ADN party will have a majority in the new National Assembly as Pachakutik members sign on

The anticipated fight for control of the new National Assembly between Citizens Revolution and President Daniel Noboa’s National Democratic Action party was over before it began. On Tuesday, seven of the nine members of the Pachakutik bloc announced they would vote with ADN, giving the president’s party, with previously committed support, at least 80 votes in the 151-member Assembly.

The new National Assembly takes its seats May 14.

With its majority coalition, ADN will elect the Assembly president and control committee seat assignments.

As late as last week, the leadership of Citizens Revolution believed it could put together a majority but that that assumed the support of all Pachakutik members. In the February election, Citizens Revolution and ADN both won 66 seats.

The newly elected Assembly takes it seats on May 14 with Noboa’s mother and ADN member Annabella Azín presiding over the organizational session. Azí says she is considering running for Assembly president but has not made a final decision.

In addition to Pachakutik, ADN has the support of the Social Christian party bloc and four independent members.

According to Government Minister José de la Gasca, ADN believes it will add the support of the two uncommitted members of Pachakutik as well as Mónica Salazar, who was elected with the Citizens Revolution delegation but left the party to become independent in April.

Citizens Revolution had no comment on Tuesday’s events but Conaie president and Correista ally Leonidas Iza called the defection of Pachakutik to the ADN side a “betrayal.”