Cuenca's Suspended Mayor Says His Return Depends On Medical Results

Cuenca's municipal leadership question is still open.

Suspended mayor Cristian Zamora says his return to City Hall will depend on his medical recovery. Zamora is suspended from office until mid-December 2026, but he said during a live broadcast on Sunday, July 26, that new exams in about a month will help his medical team define the next stage of treatment.

What Zamora said

Zamora said he will evaluate whether returning makes sense if recovery takes longer than expected. His reasoning was practical: if the process leaves only a couple of months before the term ends, he may decide not to return.

He said he remains in treatment for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and that recent exams showed favorable progress, although the recovery is still ongoing.

Zamora described a deterioration over the last five weeks. He said that during a June 26 trip to Morocco he could eat almost only fruit because of intolerance to other foods, and that after returning he required two hospitalizations.

What happens if he does not come back

If the mayor's absence continues, the relevant municipal replacement rules are in Ecuador's COOTAD framework. The source report cites Article 62, which says the vice mayor replaces the mayor when a temporary absence exceeds three days and assumes the office through the end of the term if the absence becomes definitive.

In practical terms, that means current acting mayor Marisol Penaloza would continue leading the municipal administration until May 2027 if Zamora does not return.

Councilman Gustavo Barros said he hopes Zamora can recover and return in December, but said any decision would need legal support. Councilwoman Monica Quezada expressed concern for Zamora's health and said the Cantonal Council's legislative work is continuing normally.

Why this matters locally

For residents, the main issue is continuity. Cuenca still has services, projects, council sessions, and budget decisions moving while the mayor is absent. But uncertainty at the top matters because municipal agencies, public works, mobility decisions, and political accountability all run through City Hall.

The next clear marker is Zamora's new medical evaluation in about a month.

Source: El Mercurio.