Katherine Pacheco appointed new fourth vocal of Ecuador's National Assembly CAL

Katherine Pacheco Machuca, a legislator from the Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN) bloc, has been officially sworn in as the new fourth vocal of the Legislative Administration Council (CAL) within Ecuador's National Assembly. The appointment, which took place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, fills the vacancy left by Steven Ordóñez, an independent allied with ADN, who stepped down to pursue a candidacy for Prefect of El Oro.

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the legislator was sworn in as the new fourth vocal of the Legislative Administration Council (CAL).

The motion to appoint Pacheco was formally presented by independent assembly member Edwin Jarrín. While the name of Pablo Jurado, a legislator from Imbabura and also an independent allied with ADN, was previously considered during internal political negotiations, that option did not materialize. Pacheco ultimately secured 84 votes in favor of her assuming the role, after which the President of the Legislature, Mishel Mancheno, administered the oath and official installation.

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The motion to designate the legislator was formally made in the Plenary by independent assembly member Edwin Jarrín.

The election of Pacheco, an ADN legislator, sparked parliamentary debate concerning the fifth subsection of Article 10 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function (LOFL). This article stipulates that if there are insufficient blocs to nominate the four vocals, members of the Assembly not already represented on the council may be proposed. The Revolución Ciudadana (RC) bloc voted against the motion, while Alfredo Serrano, a legislator from the Partido Social Cristiano (PSC), argued that the current legal norms were violated, emphasizing that a majority of votes does not grant the authority to transgress the law.

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Pacheco obtained the support of 84 votes in favor to assume functions, after which the president of the Legislature, Mishel Mancheno, carried out the official oath and swearing-in.

Following Pacheco's installation, the CAL, the highest administrative body of the parliament, is now composed of seven legislative authorities: Mishel Mancheno (ADN), Esteban Torres (ADN), Carmen Tiupul (Pachakutik), Sade Fritschi (ADN), Samuel Célleri (formerly PSC, allied with ADN), Mónica Salazar (formerly RC, allied with ADN), and Katherine Pacheco (ADN). The CAL's responsibilities include qualifying draft laws, suggesting the formation of occasional commissions, and approving the institutional budget. It also handles requests for political impeachment and processes administrative and disciplinary complaints against assembly members.

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the fifth subsection of Article 10 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function (LOFL), which stipulates that, if there are not enough blocs to nominate the four vocals, members of the Assembly who do not belong to the blocs already represented on the board may be proposed.