Quito Mayor Muñoz's re-election bid complicated by party suspension

Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz's aspirations for re-election in the November 2026 elections have been complicated by a recent judicial decision suspending the Movimiento Amigo political party.

The Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE) judge, Juan Patricio Maldonado, ordered the nine-month suspension of Movimiento Amigo on July 17, accepting a complaint of alleged money laundering. This ruling directly affects Muñoz and any other candidates who participated in the party's internal selection process, potentially barring them from the upcoming elections.

Electoral expert Alfredo Espinosa explained that the judge's decision not only suspended the party but also annulled all actions taken under its banner. This legal effect means that even if candidates manage to form alliances with other parties before the July 18 deadline, those chosen through Movimiento Amigo's internal processes would likely be ineligible. "Those involved in the internal selection process cannot be candidates," Espinosa stated, adding that any eligible candidates would need to be adopted by another movement by the deadline.

Espinosa described the situation as critical, highlighting further legal complexities. Alliances must be formed between active parties, and Movimiento Amigo, being suspended, cannot legally affiliate with another movement. He suggested that candidates from other parties would first need to voluntarily resign and nullify their internal elections, further complicating the scenario.

The judge's decision has drawn criticism, with Espinosa calling it "controversial" and a cause for "democratic devaluation." He warned that such actions could violate international conventions requiring elections to be free, transparent, and competitive, effectively closing the door on opposition candidates and potentially impacting international recognition of Ecuador's democratic processes.