Ecuador's TCE summons former CNE head Atamaint over party complaint

Ecuadorian politician Diana Atamaint faces a July 27 hearing at the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE) over a complaint lodged by the Unidad Popular party. The party's national director, Geovanni Atarihuana, accuses Atamaint of failing to uphold her legal duties while she headed the National Electoral Council (CNE).

At the core of the complaint is Atamaint's alleged suspension of a CNE session. This session was crucial for discussing Unidad Popular's appeal against a process aimed at removing the party from the national registry. Atarihuana contends that Atamaint halted the meeting despite a quorum being present, invoking a legal clause that penalizes electoral officials for breaching the law.

Atamaint, who resigned from the CNE on July 20, 2026, is being summoned to present arguments and evidence. Her defense team has already petitioned the TCE to dismiss the case, asserting that no personal misconduct demonstrating a legal breach has been proven. Meanwhile, the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs) is set to convene on July 22 to address Atamaint's resignation and potentially appoint a replacement.

The controversy stems from an earlier CNE effort to cancel Unidad Popular's legal status, based on internal reports finding the party lacked the required minimum membership. Although the CNE, with Atamaint's vote, approved the cancellation, a judge later reversed this decision, reinstating the party and ordering administrative sanctions against responsible officials. The TCE hearing will now examine Atarihuana's specific complaint against Atamaint's actions during this process.