Ecuador parliament president resigns day after foreign minister quit

Ecuador's National Assembly President Neils Olsen announced his resignation Monday, stating that his term had reached its natural conclusion. Olsen, a member of the ruling Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN) party, said he was leaving "whole, free" and believed his time in the legislative leadership had come.

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I am not leaving defeated, I am not leaving tired, I am leaving whole, I am leaving free, I am leaving because I believe that cycles have their right moment, and mine here is today.

Olsen, who previously served as Minister of Tourism, indicated that his desire to serve Ecuador remains strong, even if not from his current position. He mentioned returning to his hometown of Guayaquil but did not reveal specific future plans. During his tenure, Olsen highlighted efforts to address national needs and emphasized the importance of responsibility, acknowledging mistakes, and prioritizing public service.

He also touched upon the challenges of political debate and the necessity of building consensus to solve citizens' problems, transcending partisan differences. Olsen's departure coincides with that of Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, who resigned Sunday citing personal and health issues. Roberto Kury, formerly the Minister of Telecommunications, has replaced Sommerfeld.

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Serving does not depend on a chair.

The changes in the Foreign Ministry occur as President Daniel Noboa continues a restructuring of his executive branch. Last week, the government announced the merger of eight ministries and secretariats as part of an "institutional optimization process." This follows Noboa's earlier statement about reducing the number of state ministries from 14 to 10, a move similar to one made last July.

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my decision still remains the same as always: to serve Ecuador