Mass Resignation Hits Oversight Panel in Ecuador Attorney General Selection Process

A group of citizen observers monitoring the selection of Ecuador’s next Attorney General has resigned en masse, citing lack of transparency and restricted access to information.

At least ten members of the oversight committee stepped down from the process overseen by the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control, arguing that their role had become ineffective. Among those resigning were Hugo Arteaga, the committee’s national coordinator, and Rocío Espinosa, its sub-coordinator.

According to the former members, repeated requests for information were ignored by both the selection commission and the CPCCS, making it impossible to carry out meaningful oversight. They say they were not even notified in advance when the list of candidates who passed the initial screening phase was published in late March.

The group also claims that more than 30 formal communications and a detailed report outlining concerns and irregularities received no response from authorities. As a result, they described their participation as largely symbolic, with no real influence on the process.

Tensions escalated further with the emergence of a second group of observers, reportedly granted access to meetings and information that the original committee was denied. According to the resigning members, this parallel group has supported the actions of the selection commission, raising additional concerns about impartiality.

Critics say the situation undermines confidence in a process that is considered critical for Ecuador’s judicial system. Independent organizations have also raised concerns about transparency, noting delays in the publication of candidate information and gaps in verifying professional qualifications.

The resignations highlight growing scrutiny over how the selection is being conducted, with observers warning that the lack of openness could affect the legitimacy of the final appointment.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the resignations, but the controversy is likely to intensify as the selection process moves forward.