The hearing in the Electoral Contention Tribunal (TCE) of Ecuador, related to the lawsuit for alleged gender violence filed by Vice President and Ambassador to Israel, Verónica Abad, against President Daniel Noboa and other members of his administration, was postponed to Friday, November 8. The decision was made by Judge Guillermo Ortega, who had initially scheduled the hearing for Thursday, October 31, a day when a five-day holiday had been declared amid energy restrictions in the country.
In the case, Abad has accused Noboa and other government officials of alleged political gender violence, while the Executive has filed a counterclaim under the same terms against the Vice President. Abad's lawsuit also mentions the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Gabriela Sommerfeld, presidential advisor Diana Jácome, and Deputy Minister of Government Esteban Torres.
Abad accuses Noboa of politically harassing and bullying her to force her to resign, thus preventing her from assuming presidential duties as established in the Constitution in case of a leave for the 2025 electoral campaign. On the other hand, Sommerfeld and Jácome have counterclaimed against Abad for alleged political gender violence, seeking her removal.
Ecuador's Electoral Law considers political gender violence a serious offense, which can be sanctioned with a financial penalty, removal from office, and/or suspension of participation rights for up to four years. The conflict between Noboa and Abad has deepened since the 2023 presidential elections, especially when the president appointed her as ambassador to Israel upon taking office.
From the government, it is argued that Abad has not acted appropriately, and a case of possible corruption has been mentioned in the Vice Presidency offices involving her son Sebastián Barreiro. The Prosecutor's Office requested to lift Abad's immunity to charge her in this case; however, the request was rejected by Parliament with votes from the majority opposition against the ruling party.
