Ecuador's former electoral chief resigns as counselor

Diana Atamaint, who led Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) for eight years, has resigned as a counselor, according to institutional sources. Her departure follows her removal from the presidency over a month prior. Atamaint had already surpassed her term limit, as electoral law restricts CNE presidents and vice presidents to three-year terms. Her continued service was due to a stalled selection process for new council members.

José Cabrera, who replaced Atamaint as president, pledged a transparent and effective administration ahead of the November 29 local elections. Atamaint herself has remained silent on her exit. She faced significant criticism in recent months for advancing local elections from their original date in 2027 to February 2027, a decision based on a government report warning of potential impacts from the El Niño phenomenon.

Further controversy surrounded Atamaint's support for revoking the registration of the leftist party Unidad Popular, a decision later overturned by the Electoral Contentious Tribunal. Former President Rafael Correa, a prominent opposition figure, publicly condemned Atamaint, stating, "Everything this woman did cannot go unpunished. Remember that she lent herself to EVERYTHING."

Correa's party, Revolución Ciudadana, faces its own challenges, having been suspended by an electoral judge. Party president Gabriela Rivadeneira expressed concern about potential repercussions for their political organizations, fearing that revealing their chosen coalition for the upcoming elections could lead to further actions against them. She indicated that the party's candidates would appear under various political organizations during the upcoming registration period.

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Everything this woman did cannot go unpunished. Remember that she lent herself to EVERYTHING.