José Cabrera appointed new president of Ecuador's National Electoral Council amid internal tensions

José Cabrera Zurita has been appointed the new president of Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE), taking over from Diana Atamaint who had led the institution since 2018. The decision was finalized on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with four votes in favor within the electoral body.

This leadership change occurs amidst internal tensions and disputes among CNE council members regarding the management of the electoral body. The recent debates have centered on who holds the administrative, legal, and extrajudicial representation of the CNE. The official CNE account on X (formerly Twitter) announced the designation, stating, "In the exercise of its powers, the #PlenoCNE designates José Cabrera Zurita, @jr_cabreraz, as president of the National Electoral Council. 🇪🇨🗳️"

Cabrera's appointment is significant as it comes in a crucial year for organizing the upcoming sectional elections and those for the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control. Cabrera, an IT engineer with a master's in Systems Management, brings experience from public sector roles at the Central Bank, the National Transit Agency, and the former Supreme Electoral Tribunal, where he directed the IT department.

As a councilor, Cabrera now transitions to the presidency of the organization responsible for organizing, directing, monitoring, and guaranteeing electoral processes in Ecuador. His predecessor, Atamaint, had presided over the CNE during recent national electoral processes.

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In the exercise of its powers, the #PlenoCNE designates José Cabrera Zurita, @jr_cabreraz, as president of the National Electoral Council. 🇪🇨🗳️