President Daniel Noboa on the project in Olón: “all investigations are welcome”

Noboa assured, in a publication in X, that “this government does not wear itself out in the attempts of obvious politicians to start a campaign early.”

On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 8, 2024, after more than 24 hours of learning about the real estate project in Olón, promoted by a company in which his wife is a shareholder, President Daniel Noboa referred to the issue.

Noboa assured, in a publication in X, that “this government does not wear itself out in the attempts of obvious politicians to start a campaign early.”

And he stated that the Prosecutor’s Office’s decision to initiate an investigation in this regard “will give Ecuadorians the clarity they deserve,” and added that “this or all investigations into this case are welcome.”

Hours before, during a presentation of decorations to police officers at the Cuartel Modelo in Guayaquil, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Noboa maintained that his political rivals “have already begun to attack” and that this is a sign that the campaign for the elections 2025 presidential elections “has begun.”

The president was addressing the police officers who received the decorations, when he said: “Clear evidence that they are doing their job well is the number of attacks we have received in recent days.”

“Why? To unmask a corrupt prison service (…) Also criminal structures in security companies (…) because we made Ecuador respect the world and we were not going to allow a fugitive from justice to take it to us from Ecuador,” Noboa continued.

With that last phrase he referred to the assault on the Mexican Embassy in Quito, in order to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, which caused the breaking of diplomatic relations.

The president’s statements come in the midst of a controversy over the real estate project that the company Vinazin SA, of which his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi , is a partner, wants to build in Olón, Santa Elena.

The one who has spoken out on this matter is the Minister of the Interior, Mónica Palencia, who called the situation a “scandal” promoted by political parties after the “9 to 2 win” in the popular consultation and referendum.

While the State Attorney General’s Office confirmed on May 8 that it opened a prior investigation into the Olón case.