New Azuay Province Governor Xavier Bermúdez is a frequent critic of Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora

As former municipal councilman Xavier Bermúdez replaces Santiago Malo as governor of Azuay Province, many are predicting a contentious relationship between the national government and Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora.

New Azuay Province Governor Xavier Bermúdez

Bermúdez resigned last week from the municipal council to accept President Daniel Noboa’s appointment as Azuay governor. Unlike the popularly elected Azuay prefect, the governor serves at the pleasure of the president and represents national government interests in the province.

In his introductory comments on Monday, Bermúdez said his primary mission as governor is to keep Azuay Province safe. “The focus of my duties will be protecting residents based on the guidelines established by the president,” he said. “Order, respect, legality and honesty will be the exes of my management. I will expect efficiency and transparently from all public functions in the province and, most important, that the public is properly served.”

He added that he will not interfere in the affairs of municipalities and the prefecture but will be provide oversight to make sure programs are well-managed that money is well-spent.

In addition to his service on the Cuenca municipal council, Bermúdez was a provincial labor leader and director of two neighborhood organizations. He is an attorney by profession.

During his term on the municipal council, Bermúdez was a frequent critic of Zamora, questioning construction contracts for three municipal hospitals and charging that Zamora overstepped his authority on several occasions. He also criticized the mayor for not promoting a prohibition of two men on motorcycles within the Cuenca canton.

Former municipal councilman Gustavo Morona said Bermúdez’s appointment sets up a “very confrontational scenario” between Zamora and the national government. “There is no doubt Bermúdez will use his office to question the legality of municipal contracts and expenditures,” says Morona. “It is possible he will demand investigations from the Attorney General’s office of city expenditures.”

On the other hand, says Morona, Zamora will aggressively pursue the millions of dollars in funds the national government owes the municipality. “I expect the mayor to also insist, again, that the government return the Turi prison to its original role as a regional, not a national facility.”