Ecuador's Assembly grants Noboa leave to be absent from his duties for 18 days

Quito.- Ecuador's Assembly approved this Friday, in a virtual plenary session, President Daniel Noboa's request to be absent from his duties for eighteen days, between January 1 and 18, in order to attend to personal matters. The request, presented by the assemblyman of the ruling party Johnny Lavayen, was approved with 81 votes in favor from the bench of National Democratic Action (ADN) and allied parties, while the correista movement Citizen Revolution, the main opposition force, voted against. During the absence of the president, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the presidential functions will be delegated to Vice President María José Pinto. Initially, the president had requested a fifteen-day leave, but on the morning of this Friday he notified the president of the Assembly, Niels Olsen, of the extension of the term by three additional days.

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The Organic Law of the Legislative Function establishes that it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to know and resolve requests for leave of absence from the President of the Republic. According to the official agenda, Noboa will resume his duties on January 19 in Switzerland, where he will participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos. Subsequently, between January 22 and 25, he will travel to Belgium to meet with high authorities of the European Union, with whom he will address issues related to investments, security, and the Schengen visa, as explained to EFE by Chancellor Gabriela Sommerfeld.