The Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office investigates a case of influence peddling in the Vice Presidency

The Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office arrested this Thursday the son of the vice president of Ecuador, Verónica Abad, within the framework of an investigation for an alleged crime of influence peddling in the country's Vice Presidency.

The Transparency and Fight against Corruption Unit carried out the operation in the cities of Quito and Cuenca.

Francisco Barreiro Abad's home was raided by the Public Ministry, which called the case

and is awaiting a hearing before the judge to resolve his legal situation.

The vice president's son is a lawyer by profession and has held several public positions in the Government of the province of Azuay, in the south of Ecuador.

The Prosecutor's Office investigation delves into the tense relationship between the president, Daniel Noboa, and Abad, who since December 10, 2023 has been serving as ambassador for peace in Israel, whom she sent to mediate with Palestine.

It is the first time in Ecuador's democratic history that a president assigns tasks outside the country to a vice president.

“I had 500 options.

“I could have sent her to be in charge of the Antarctic station or to have the functions of a minister or to have the functions of an ambassador,” the president responded to the criticism at the time.

According to the Ecuadorian Constitution, the functions of the vice president are those designated exclusively by the president.

Given that decision, Abad could resign or go to Tel Aviv, where he has also been prohibited from giving statements about the situation in the country.

The break in relations between the two was evident since they surprisingly won the first round of elections.

The duo did not receive the results together and the vice president's statements were later disavowed by the now president.

There were never any appearances of the two together in the rest of the presidential campaign, until the day of the presentation of credentials at the Electoral Council, when both seemed uncomfortable and in his speech Noboa spoke of betrayal.

The reasons for the separation were not made public until after the official inauguration ceremony, when the vice president was excluded from all events.

While the young president offered lunch to his guests at the Carondelet Palace, Abad visited the Iñaquito market in Quito.

According to Abad, the breakup occurred due to the legislative agreements reached by the Government party with the Citizen Revolution, of Rafael Correa, to elect authorities in the Assembly, an agreement of which the details are not known and of which They had spoken before registering the candidacy, said the vice president.

The crime of offering influence peddling is stipulated in the Penal Code of Ecuador and is punishable with a prison sentence of three to five years for anyone who “accepts or requests from third parties, gifts or any other remuneration, in order to exert influence.” in another public servant to obtain an act or resolution favorable to his own interests or that of third parties.”

If the Prosecutor's Office supports the alleged crime of offering influence peddling in the Vice Presidency, Verónica Abad could be called to impeachment in the Legislature and be dismissed.

With her out of the Government, Daniel Noboa would have to send a shortlist to the Assembly to appoint someone in office - a person he trusts - who would replace her while the president is in a political campaign, after showing his intention to be a candidate for the elections. presidential elections that will be in February 2025.

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