Citizens Revolution to appeal party’s suspension, claims Ecuador is entering a ‘time of dictatorship’

The Citizens Revolution (RC) movement says it will appeal its nine-month suspension by the Contentious Electoral Tribunal (TCE) and plans to present a full slate of provincial and local candidates for the February 2027 elections.

Citizens Revolution President Gabriela Rivadeneira

According to Judge Joaquín Viteri, the tribunal’s Friday decision is based on a formal complaint by Attorney General Carlos Leonardo Alarcón whose office is investigating leaders of Citizens’ Revolution in the so-called Petty Cash case. Investigators allege that some RC members engaged in the money laundering of funds provided by the Venezuelan government.

RC’s suspension, based on an article of the Code of Democracy, can be extended to 24 months depending on findings of the investigation, Viteri says. He adds that the order can only be lifted if the investigation determines that no illegal activity occurred or if the Attorney General’s office decides to suspend the investigation before it is concluded.

The TCE decision effectively bars Citizens’ Revolution from participating in the regional elections since the nine-month suspension period includes the deadline for candidate registration for prefect, mayor and local council elections next year.

On Monday, RC filed a legal challenge to the suspension, claiming the action is “politically motivated” and based on “loose allegations” made the Attorney General’s office. “The Petty Cash case was bogus from the start, based on the whims of the state Attorney General,” RC said in a statement. “It is an attempt to limit the participation of the main opposition force in Ecuador.” The statement added that the nine-month suspension was designed “specifically” to exclude RC from the regional elections.

In social media posts, RC president Gabriela Rivadeneira claimed that “Ecuador is entering a time of rightwing dictatorship” and that the Correista movement intends to serve as the main opposition to the government’s “totalitarian agenda.” She added, “The action of the tribunal is a robbery of democracy and the imposition of electoral and administrative obstacles aimed at the Citizens Revolution movement.”

Rivadeneira insists that RC will participate in the February 2027 elections even if its appeal to the TCE decision fails. “We expect to be successful in our effort to reestablish democracy but, if not, our candidates will register to participate in the election as independents,” she said.