Ecuadorian president replaces vice president after long-running feud

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa appointed Cynthia Gellibert, secretary general of public administration, as interim vice president on Saturday, replacing the elected-Vice President Veronica Abad.

Over the past year, Noboa and Abad have feuded over who would represent the country as president while Noboa takes time out to campaign in the run-up to the presidential election in which he seeks a four-year term.

The country's constitution states that when the president campaigns, the presidency must be handed over to the vice president.

Abad, who has also been serving as the Andean country's ambassador to Israel, has repeatedly argued that she had the right to the presidency, but was suspended from her post by the labor ministry in November.

In the decree, Noboa stated that Abad was barred from holding public office based on legal issues and insubordination.

The ministry accused her of committing a serious disciplinary offense by not complying with a Noboa order to travel to Turkey on set dates.

In the April election, Noboa faces leftist Luisa Gonzalez, in an unexpectedly tight contest featuring the same two candidates who were in a 2023 snap election.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Michael Perry)