The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, accused the son of the suspended vice president and ambassador to Israel, Verónica Abad, of allegedly having 7.2 million dollars in tax havens. Noboa did not elaborate further on the matter amidst the conflict against Abad, who was sent as an ambassador to Israel to mediate between Israelis and Palestinians.
This statement comes after Abad was suspended for five months for not relocating to Ankara within the established deadline, having been relocated from Tel Aviv for security reasons. In light of this suspension, Noboa appointed the national planning secretary, Sariha Moya, as acting vice president.
The suspension prevents Abad from temporarily assuming presidential duties when Noboa needs to take leave to participate in the 2025 electoral campaign. In that campaign, he will seek reelection according to the Constitution. Noboa's administration has made it clear that they did not wish for the vice president to perform presidential functions.
Abad's son was detained in an alleged corruption case in Ecuador and was released on bail. Although the Prosecutor's Office mentioned possible indications of Abad's involvement in the crime of concussion, the National Assembly rejected lifting her immunity to include her in the investigation.
Abad has denied the accusations and attributed to Noboa an alleged harassment to force her resignation. She has also sued Noboa and several members of his administration for political gender violence, generating a counterclaim in the Electoral Contentious Court.
The rift between Noboa and Abad intensified after the 2023 elections when the president sent her to Israel after winning the elections. Noboa has emphasized that he faced "the treachery within the Government" during his first eleven months in office.
