{{Short description|Ecuadorian politician}} {{Expand Spanish|topic=bio|Jorge Yunda|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jorge Yunda | image = Jorge Yunda Machado.png | office = Metropolitan Mayor of Quito | term_start = 14 May 2019 | term_end = 29 September 2021 | predecessor = Mauricio Rodas | successor = Santiago Guarderas | office1 = Member of the National Assembly from the Pichincha Province | term_start1 = 14 May 2017 | term_end1 = 12 December 2018 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | birth_name = Jorge Homero Yunda Machado | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|8|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Guano, Ecuador | occupation = Physician, politician, radio broadcaster }} '''Jorge Homero Yunda Machado''' (born 28 August 1965) is an Ecuadorian politician, physician, musician and radio broadcaster. He was a member of the PAIS Alliance but then changed parties to Centro Democrático.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/jorgeyunda-alianzapais-asambleista-centrodemocratico-jimmyjairala.html|title=Jorge Yunda deja Alianza País y pasa a las filas de Centro Democrático|publisher=El Comercio|language=Spanish}}</ref> From 2017 until 2018, he served as a member of the National Assembly,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Basantes |first=Ana |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Los inicios en la política para Jorge Yunda |url=https://gk.city/2019/09/04/carrera-politica-jorge-yunda/ |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=GK}}</ref> when he run for the position as Metropolitan Mayor of Quito, under the Unión Ecuatoriana movement. He occupied the post from 2019 until 2021 when the municipal council decided to remove him from office due to several allegations of corruption against him.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Quito, en manos de un médico, locutor y músico |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/perfil-jorge-yunda-alcalde-quito.html |accessdate=August 18, 2021 |publisher=El Comercio}}</ref>

== Professional career ==

He completed his higher education at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the [<nowiki/>Central University of Ecuador, where he graduated with a degree in medicine.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=El Comercio |date=November 26, 2013 |title=Yunda vive entre la radio, el bisturí y la composición |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/deportes/futbol/yunda-vive-radio-bisturi-y/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507142513/https://www.elcomercio.com/deportes/futbol/yunda-vive-radio-bisturi-y.html |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=El Comercio}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=El Comercio |date=May 12, 2019 |title=Quito, en manos de un médico, locutor y músico |url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/perfil-jorge-yunda-alcalde-quito.html |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=El Comercio}}</ref> He worked as a surgeon at the Eugenio Espejo Hospital, the Hospital del Sur, and the Isidro Ayora Maternity Hospital.<ref name=":0" />

He combined his medical career with broadcasting, an activity he pursued since his student days. In 2005, he decided to devote himself fully to the broadcasting profession.<ref name=":0" /> He worked for the radio stations Jesús del Gran Poder, Francisco Stereo, América, Cordillera, and Radio Canela. He led his own radio broadcasting projects under the “Canela” brand, consolidating it as one of the most listened to stations in its coverage areas.<ref name=":0" /> In his radio career, he is known by the pseudonym “Loro Homero,” inherited from his grandmother and his middle name, Homero.<ref name=":1" />

==Political career== During the administration of Rafael Correa, Yunda headed the former Conartel (National Radio and Television Council) between 2007 and 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=El Universo |date=April 15, 2019 |title=Frecuencias y política marcan vida de Jorge Yunda |url=https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2019/04/15/nota/7286195/frecuencias-politica-marcan-vida-yunda |access-date=September 9, 2022 |work=El Universo}}</ref>

In February 2017, he was elected to the National Assembly (Ecuador) representing the province of Pichincha as part of the Alianza PAIS (AP) Movement.<ref name=":2" />

In 2019, he was elected Mayor of Quito under the Unión Ecuatoriana movement.<ref name=":3" /> According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), Yunda obtained 296,096 votes (21.4% of valid votes) in the local election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CNE |date=2019 |title=Resultados electorales |url=https://www.cne.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RESULTADOS-ELECTORALES-2019.pdf |access-date=September 22, 2025}}</ref>

In the early hours of June 3, 2021, with 14 votes in favor, the Quito Metropolitan Council approved his removal from office due to several allegations of corruption against him. Following this decision, Deputy Mayor Santiago Guarderas took office as acting mayor of Quito until the respective review and appeal processes are completed and a decision is made by the Council.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carranza |first=Diego |date=June 3, 2021 |title=El Concejo de Quito en Ecuador destituyó al alcalde Jorge Yunda por “incumplir funciones” |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/es/pol%C3%ADtica/el-concejo-de-quito-en-ecuador-destituy%C3%B3-al-alcalde-jorge-yunda-por-incumplir-funciones-/2263169 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=Anadolu Ajansi}}</ref> The decision made by the Quito Metropolitan Council was unanimously ratified by the Electoral Court on the morning of July 1, 2021, thus confirming Yunda's removal from office.<ref>{{Cite news |last=La República |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Contencioso ratifica remoción de Yunda de la alcaldía de Quito |url=https://www.larepublica.ec/blog/2021/07/01/jorge-yunda-es-removido-de-la-alcaldia-de-quito/ |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=La República}}</ref>

On July 30, 2021, the Court of Pichincha overturned the process to remove Jorge Yunda, rendering Guarderas' appointment null and void. However, on September 29, the Constitutional Court accepted the protective action filed by Guarderas, overturning the court rulings in favor of Yunda and confirming Guarderas' succession as mayor, this ruling being final.<ref>{{Cite news |last=La Hora |date=September 29, 2021 |title=Corte Constitucional falla en contra de Jorge Yunda y lo deja sin la Alcaldía |url=https://www.lahora.com.ec/archivo/Corte-Constitucional-falla-en-contra-de-Jorge-Yunda-y-lo-deja-sin-la-Alcaldia-20210930-0004.html |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=La Hora}}</ref>

On September 22, 2025, The Provincial Court of Pichincha upheld the innocence ofYunda and other 13 defendants in the case involving the purchase of PCR tests by the Municipality of Quito during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Primicias |date=September 22, 2025 |title=Corte declara inocencia de Jorge Yunda, exalcalde de Quito, y 13 personas más en el caso pruebas PCR |url=https://www.primicias.ec/politica/sentencia-jorge-yunda-pruebas-pcr-pandemia-covid-105765/ |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=Primicias}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yunda, Jorge}} Category:Living people Category:1965 births Category:PAIS Alliance politicians Category:Mayors of Quito Category:Members of the National Assembly (Ecuador) Category:People from Chimborazo Province

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