Ecuador’s opposition-controlled Congress began impeachment proceedings Wednesday against Interior Minister Monica Palencia, who is accused of failing to get a grip on escalating drug-related violence.
Palencia is the most visible face of the government’s fight against a crime wave shaking the South American nation.
She will defend herself against accusations from two legislators close to former socialist president Rafael Correa who are seeking to remove her from office.
Impeachment requires the support of 92 of the 137 members of Congress, where the opposition has a majority.
Once seen as a beacon of stability in South America, Ecuador has become one of the world’s most violent nations and a major drug trafficking hub in recent years.
Ecuador registered a record 47 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, up from a rate of six murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018.
President Daniel Noboa’s government says its crackdown on gangs allegedly linked to international criminal groups such as Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel has reduced the number of murders this year.
Noboa has defended Palencia and canceled a trip to Brazil to follow the impeachment proceeding, saying he would “accompany her throughout her journey.”
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