Ecuador court confirms 3-year sentence for Guayaquil mayor Aquiles Álvarez

An Ecuadorian appeals court confirmed a three-year prison sentence for Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Álvarez in the 'Grillete' case, with a cassation appeal still possible before the National Court of Justice. If upheld, Álvarez could serve until 2029, potentially triggering a leadership vacuum in Ecuador's largest city. The case is part of ongoing corruption probes, but the final outcome remains uncertain pending the cassation review.