Ciudad Juárez is gearing up for a major political shakeup. Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar formally asked the city council for an indefinite leave of absence on Wednesday, June 17, stepping away after nearly five years at the helm of the municipal government. Saying he was leaving “with peace of mind,” he handed day-to-day authority to City Secretary Héctor Rafael Ortiz Orpinel, clearing his schedule for a bigger push on the statewide stage in Chihuahua.
As reported by KFOX14, Pérez Cuéllar requested a special City Council session and used the moment to give a long list of thank-yous. He praised municipal employees, elected officials and residents, and singled out police, firefighters, and other frontline personnel for special recognition. He also thanked voters for backing him in the 2021 and 2024 elections. “I leave with peace of mind because I know there is an extraordinary team under extraordinary leadership,” he told council members.
Ortiz Orpinel to steer the city
Juárez officials and local reporting indicate that Héctor Rafael Ortiz Orpinel, the municipal secretary and Pérez Cuéllar’s designated suplente, will oversee the administration while the mayor is on leave. According to Juárez Inside, Ortiz has already been handling key security and coordination duties in recent weeks as the transition was prepared. City spokespeople say that ongoing projects and basic services are expected to continue under Ortiz’s stewardship, so residents should see city hall running as usual, at least on paper.
He signals a run for governor
Pérez Cuéllar has not exactly been shy about his ambitions. La Jornada reported in April that he planned to register in Morena’s internal process as a step toward the 2027 gubernatorial race. He has said he wants the freedom to move around the state and advocate for Juárez without being tied to the municipal calendar. Political observers note that taking this kind of leave is typical prep work for internal party contests and generally marks the start of a more active, statewide phase of campaigning.
Local reaction and what comes next
The move has not been universally applauded. Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos publicly questioned the timing, arguing that Juárez still faces serious service and public safety challenges that require steady, hands-on attention, according to 860 Líder Informativo. Pérez Cuéllar and his team, for their part, have emphasized that there will be continuity while Ortiz is in charge, and his 2024 certification of victory gives him a political platform to build from, per reporting by El Universal.
The leave petition was filed during a council session and must still be considered by the Cabildo. If it is approved, Ortiz will formally assume the presidencia municipal while Pérez Cuéllar follows Morena’s internal calendar, according to La Voz de Chihuahua. The coming weeks will show whether his statewide push manages to consolidate support across northern Chihuahua, and how Juárez adjusts to life under interim leadership.
