Background on Daniel Noboa and His Relevance
Daniel Noboa, the current President of Ecuador, has announced his intention to take a temporary leave from his presidential duties to campaign for the “yes” vote in an upcoming referendum. This move comes after he met with Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, on November 15 – a day before the referendum.
Referendum Details and Key Dates
The referendum, scheduled for November 16, includes a question about the return of foreign military bases. Noboa plans to be absent from his presidential duties on Friday and between November 9-13, the last day of the campaign. His request is a mere formality as he holds a majority in the National Assembly, ensuring its approval.
Previous Congressional Interactions
Unlike this year’s presidential elections, where Noboa lacked a majority in Congress and turned to the National Electoral Council (CNE) two weeks before the second round amid disputes with then-Vice President Verónica Abad, Noboa is now approaching a Congress that supports him.
Constitutional Obligations and Current Situation
According to the Ecuadorian Constitution, the President must request leave from Congress before temporarily absenting himself from his duties. The current question revolves around whether Noboa adhered to this requirement on Wednesday when he met with and discussed the potential re-establishment of a U.S. military base with Kristi Noem.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Daniel Noboa? Daniel Noboa is the President of Ecuador, who recently announced his intention to take a temporary leave from his duties to campaign for the upcoming referendum.
- What is the purpose of Noboa’s leave? The primary reason for Noboa’s temporary absence from his presidential duties is to campaign for a “yes” vote in the referendum, which includes a question about the return of foreign military bases.
- When will Noboa be absent from his duties? Noboa plans to take leave on Friday and between November 9-13, the final days of the campaign leading up to the referendum on November 16.
- Why is Noboa’s request a formality? The request is considered a formality because Noboa holds a majority in the National Assembly, ensuring its approval.
- What was the nature of Noboa’s meeting with Kristi Noem? Daniel Noboa met with Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, to discuss the potential re-establishment of a U.S. military base in Ecuador, a day before the referendum.
- What constitutional obligation is under scrutiny? The Ecuadorian Constitution requires the President to request leave from Congress before temporarily absenting himself from his duties. The current debate centers around whether Noboa followed this requirement when meeting with Kristi Noem.
