Complaint against Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz dismissed by Electoral Tribunal

A complaint filed against Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz, who is also seeking re-election, has been dismissed by the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE). Judge Ivonne Coloma ruled on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, that the tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The complaint was lodged by Jennifer Celorio Suárez, who accused Muñoz of interfering in the electoral process. Celorio argued that Muñoz committed this infraction by voting in favor of a resolution from the Quito Metropolitan Council. This resolution rejected all forms of political proscription or unjustified exclusion of political organizations during electoral processes.

Furthermore, the resolution had urged state institutions to uphold democratic principles, political rights, pluralism, and due process. However, Judge Coloma stated that the complaint lacked clarity on how Muñoz's actions could have interfered with the Electoral Function. The judge determined that the challenges raised were related to the exercise of the Autonomous Decentralized Government of the Metropolitan District of Quito's own competencies.

This ruling is a first instance decision and can be appealed to the full TCE. Pabel Muñoz is running for Mayor of Quito again under the Alianza Ciudadana coalition, formed by Unidad Popular, the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, and the Todos movement. This electoral agreement was established after the suspension of the Correísta movement Revolución Ciudadana, to which Muñoz belongs, and subsequently the Amigo movement.