Ecuadoran Vice President Veronica Abad was suspended Saturday for 150 days after being accused of “unjustified abandonment” of her duties
Ecuadoran Vice President Veronica Abad was suspended Saturday for 150 days after being accused of “unjustified abandonment” of her duties. It comes during a public rift between Abad and President Daniel Noboa that could have implications for Ecuador's February elections.
Abad's suspension without pay came at midnight, her lawyer Dominique Davila told The Associated Press. Davila called the move “extremely serious” and claimed it may not have any legal backing.
Abad was accused by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of not following an order in September to temporarily transfer her from Israel — where she also serves as ambassador — to Turkey due to the conflict, arriving eight days after the order.
Abad had argued that she was not “properly prepared” for the trip to Turkey and that Ecuador's government suggested “that I leave my children in Israel to go to Turkey alone.”