Cuenca Parties Start Naming 2026 Local Election Candidates

Cuenca's 2026 local election season is moving from rumor to names on paper. On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Nueva Generacion and Unidad Popular held internal primary processes for the sectional elections scheduled for November 29, 2026.

The First Names To Know

Nueva Generacion selected Pedro Palacios as pre-candidate for mayor of Cuenca. Palacios previously served as Cuenca mayor from 2019 to 2023.

The same movement selected Raul Delgado, current mayor of Paute and former president of the Association of Ecuadorian Municipalities, as pre-candidate for prefect of Azuay. Its event was held at Hotel Oro Verde and brought together about 370 pre-candidates.

Unidad Popular held its Azuay primaries at the UNE auditorium in central Cuenca, with more than 300 candidates and about 400 delegates participating. That process selected Sebastian Cevallos for Azuay prefect and Natalia Arpi for vice-prefect.

More Decisions Coming

The process continues on July 2, when remaining pre-candidacies and possible center-left alliances are expected to be defined. The CNE in Azuay also reported similar processes in San Fernando, Santa Isabel and Giron.

Nationally, the CNE is supervising candidate selection for 23 prefectures, 222 mayoralties, 1,366 council seats and 4,131 rural parish board seats.

Why Expats Should Pay Attention

Mayors and prefects decide the practical stuff: roads, public works, land use, mobility, local taxes, market rules and neighborhood services. Even if you do not vote, these races shape daily life in Cuenca more directly than national political theater.

Source: El Mercurio