On the afternoon of June 14, the National Assembly did not allow Vice President Verónica Abad to be criminally prosecuted for alleged concussion in the Nene case. With 74 votes in favor of Correismo and the Social Christian Party They approved the motion of legislator Gissella Molina to not allow the prosecution. Meanwhile, the officialdom He voted against and only obtained 38 votes. There were 20 abstentions that came from Build.
Previously, the Plenary denied the motion to allow Abad binding to the case in which his son is being investigated. 92 votes in favor were needed and there were only 41, which came from the ruling party. The votes against were 74 and came from Correismo and the PSC. Build abstained.
READ: Nene Case: three scenarios for Verónica Abad arise from the Assembly’s decision
The National Court of Justice declared the case file as reserved, and the assembly members went to vote without knowing the criminal evidence.
92 votes were needed to remove Abad’s immunity. 70 votes to deny that request, which is what happened.
With this, Verónica Abad maintains, for now, her aspiration to occupy the Presidency when Daniel Noboa asks for a license to campaign in the 2025 elections. However, when she stops being vice president she can already be prosecuted.
READ: The benches want to know the evidence against Verónica Abad to decide whether or not to remove her immunity
Follow minute by minute here. (The events are narrated from most recent to oldest)
Henry Kronfle closed the session
15:09 – Lock to approvalThe Plenary Session reconsidered the vote and put a lock on what was approved. Only the ruling party, with 37 endorsements, wanted a new vote.
14:48 – Gissella Molina’s motion is voted onWith 75 votes in favor, the Assembly did not give way for Verónica Abad to be linked to the Nene case due to alleged concussion. The votes came from Correismo and the PSC. Build abstained. The ruling party voted against.
With this, Abad cannot be prosecuted, but the process continues for Francisco Barreiro Abad and Daniel Redrovan.
14:27 – Remaining motions are requested to be voted onFernando Jaramillo asks that the two remaining motions be voted on. We proceed to read what Gissella Molina proposed: not allowing criminal prosecution. For this, 70 votes are required.
14.21 – The debate continuesLuzmila Abad, from Pachakutik, intervenes and does not add any motion.
14:08 – Voting has startedThere were not the necessary votes to allow criminal prosecution against Verónica Abad. 92 votes in favor were needed and there were only 41 that came from the ruling party. While 74 were against, on behalf of Correism, and 18 voted to abstain.
Two motions to deny the link still need to be voted on.
13:50 – Berrezueta’s motion is read and then votedSecretary Muñoz reads the motion and brings it to the attention of the Plenary so that they can register their attendance and vote accordingly. There are 133 legislators present. 92 votes are needed for approval.
13:44 – Leonardo Berrezueta moves the prosecutionThe Correismo assemblyman asks that we proceed as mandated by the Constitution.
He makes a preliminary motion to authorize criminal prosecution, but assures that he will vote against it.
13:32 – Ferdinan Álvarez intervenes and makes a second motionThe independent assemblyman argues that it is not necessary to know the background of the case. He is in favor of allowing Abad to be prosecuted, but considered that “there are no votes.”
He also files a motion not to allow criminal prosecution.
13:26 – Gissella Molina intervenes and makes a first motionThe legislator, former Gente Buena, reviews that it was Daniel Noboa who chose Verónica Abad as his vice president. She asks for respect for the democratic representation of women.
Moves to deny the request for criminal prosecution.
13:21 – Inés Alarcón intervenesThe ruling party assembly member (ADN) believes that we should not give way to impunity and points out that the information necessary to know more details of the case is found on the publicly accessible judicial portal, Satje.
He proceeds to read the version of the complainant, who assures that Verónica Abad knew about the illegal payments.
“Our duty is not to obstruct justice,” he said.
13:19Kronfle explains to the assembly members that it is not possible to read the report because it is classified.
“We are the only ones to decide on the judge’s request.”
The debate opens.
13:07Henry Kronfle, president of the Assembly, highlights that the information on the case is confidential. The secretary explains that the letter cannot be read in plenary.
In the letter sent to the Assembly there is an incorrect date: June 12, 2021, instead of 2024.
12:59: Analysis beginsThe secretary, Alejandro Muñoz, reads the articles of the Constitution, COIP, Organic Law of the Legislative Function and others referring to the confidentiality of information before proceeding to the vote.
12:50The session is installed with 126 of 137 assembly members present and is public.
12:29 – Jorge PeñafielThe Construye assemblyman was against the session being reserved. He added that two legislators from his caucus are free to vote as they see fit. He said it for the digital medium OnlyPanas.
12:20 – Construye says he will vote in abstentionThe Construye bench announced that it will vote in abstention because they do not know the alleged evidence against Verónica Abad. But some of its members will vote in favor and “respect his decision.”
“Today we go blind to the session of the National Assembly, they have not given us a single document on the arguments that allegedly link the Vice President to a criminal offense. We do not agree with any type of reservation regarding such relevant information and therefore we will vote by abstention. “We respect the position of some members of the bench who consider that the investigation should be authorized immediately and will vote in that sense,” the movement published.
12:00 – Viviana Veloz asks judge Daniella Camacho for rigorViviana Veloz, from Correismo, criticized that the request for connection made by the judge Daniella Camacho has arrived at the Assembly as reserved.
He said that the ruling party will move to lift immunity.
If there are not 92 votes, “it would be understood that at this moment the judge cannot bind Abad,” he said.
He was against the session being reserved.
