Ecuador Judge Overturns Suspension Of Vice President

An Ecuadorean judge has overturned the temporary suspension from office of Vice-President Veronica Abad, a move which could stymie President Daniel Noboa’s plans to take a leave of absence to campaign for re-election.

Noboa and Abad, elected last year to finish out their predecessors’ terms, have repeatedly clashed and Noboa sent Abad to Israel to act as ambassador and manage the South American country’s response to Israel’s war with Hamas.

Noboa is seen as unlikely to take unpaid campaign leave ahead of the February 25 presidential contest if it would mean Abad would be briefly in charge of Ecuador.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere