Will Cristian Zamora Return As Mayor? Cuenca Still Needs An Answer

Cuenca still does not have a simple answer on whether Cristian Zamora can return to the mayor’s office after his six-month sanction ends. El Mercurio spoke with three legal experts, and their views point in different directions.

Why the question exists

Zamora’s sanction came from a sentence for political gender violence, which suspended his participation rights. Marisol Peñaloza, the vice mayor, is now legally and temporarily running the municipal administration.

The hard part is what happens after the six months. The article notes a possible gap between election-law sanctions and the municipal rules that govern absences from office.

The stricter reading

Rubén Calle, president of the Colegio de Abogados del Azuay, told El Mercurio that Zamora should not be able to resume his duties when the sanction ends. Calle’s view is that the suspension of political rights also blocks a person from exercising public office during the sanction, and that the Cootad allows a maximum absence of 60 days for a sitting authority.

Under that reading, Cuenca’s council would have to evaluate whether the absence becomes abandonment of office.

The undecided reading

Jorge Moreno, a lawyer, former TCE judge, and University of Cuenca professor, took a less definitive position. He said the Commission of Mesa should determine whether Zamora’s absence is temporary or definitive and issue a legal report for the full council.

Moreno also pointed to the consultation that Peñaloza submitted to the Procuraduría General del Estado, which could issue guidance on the dispute.

The temporary-sanction reading

Juan Darquea, a former provincial director of the Council of the Judiciary, argued there is no legal basis to call this abandonment. His point is that abandonment requires a voluntary act, while Zamora’s absence comes from compliance with a final sentence.

Darquea also noted that the TCE sentence, ratified on June 9, 2026, established a six-month suspension. In his view, the restriction ends when that period ends.

What this means for residents

For now, expect more legal process before there is political clarity. The practical question is not only who occupies the mayor’s chair today, but whether Cuenca’s council must make a final decision before the sanction period ends.

Source: El Mercurio