Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa appointed Cynthia Gellibert, secretary general of public administration, as interim vice president, replacing the elected Vice President Veronica Abad. 

Over the past year, Noboa and Abad have clashed over presidential representation while Noboa campaigns for a four-year term in the upcoming election. According to the country's constitution, the presidency must be transferred to the vice president during the president's campaign.

Abad, who has also been serving as the ambassador to Israel, has asserted her right to the presidency but was suspended from her position by the labor ministry in November. Noboa's decree cited legal issues and insubordination as grounds for her dismissal.

The ministry accused Abad of committing a serious disciplinary offense by failing to comply with a Noboa order to travel to Turkey on specified dates.

In the April election, Noboa faces leftist Luisa Gonzalez in a unexpectedly competitive race featuring the same two candidates from a previous snap election in 2023.