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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Elections & Politics

Ecuadorian Tribunal hears case against former CNE president Diana Atamaint

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Ecuador's Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) is holding a hearing regarding a complaint against former National Electoral Council (CNE) president Diana Atamaint.
  • Unidad Popular accuses Atamaint of misconduct for allegedly abruptly closing a May 3 session despite a quorum, preventing the resolution of a resource that could have impacted their political party's registration.
  • Atamaint's defense requested the case's dismissal, arguing that the evidence did not prove an illegal closure, while Unidad Popular seeks the maximum financial penalty against her.

Ecuador's Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) has convened a hearing concerning a complaint filed by the political party Unidad Popular against Diana Atamaint, the former president of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The complaint alleges irregularities in her exercise of official functions.

The decision was a deliberate act that prevented the resolution of a correction resource presented by our organization, leaving us in a state of defenselessness regarding a process of elimination from the Registry of Political Organizations.

— Geovanni AtarihuanaUnidad Popular leader, explaining the impact of the alleged session closure.

The core of Unidad Popular's grievance centers on a CNE plenary session held on May 3, 2026. According to party leader Geovanni Atarihuana, Atamaint allegedly closed the session prematurely, despite the presence of a quorum. This action, he claims, deliberately prevented the resolution of a correction request submitted by his organization, leaving them in a state of defenselessness regarding a process that could have led to their elimination from the Registry of Political Organizations.

During the hearing, Atamaint's lawyer, Diego Analuisa, requested the case be dismissed, arguing that the evidence presented by Unidad Popular failed to substantiate the claim of an illegal session closure. The defense also denied any deliberate refusal to provide the Registry of Political Organizations and characterized the accusations as lacking verified support.

After the reproduction of the evidence presented by Unidad Popular, it was not possible to prove the alleged illegal closure of the session.

— Diego AnaluisaDiana Atamaint's lawyer, arguing for the dismissal of the case.

Beyond the specific incident, Atarihuana used the platform to criticize Atamaint's overall management of the electoral body, accusing the CNE under her leadership of acting as a "political operator" for the government. This, he argued, compromised institutional impartiality. Unidad Popular is seeking the maximum financial sanction permissible under the Democracy Code for electoral officials found to have breached their legal obligations.

Under her command, the CNE allegedly acted as a political operator for the Government of Daniel Noboa.

— Geovanni AtarihuanaAccusing Atamaint's leadership of compromising the CNE's impartiality.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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