The day before, only 77 lawmakers supported censuring the official for failing to perform her duties, of the 92 votes needed to get her removed from office.

Despite the accusations raised against Palencia on Wednesday at the National Assembly, for the current wave of kidnappings and extortion, assembly members from Construye, a political group led by former minister María Paula Romo, mostly abstained.

Such stance came as surprise, because those deputies signed to seat Palencia on the dock, and a few months ago issued a public statement voicing their “support” for her political trial.

Lawmaker Paola Cabezas, of the Citizen Revolution and a staunch supporter of the impeachment, pointed out that in previous days government officials had been maneuvering at the Parliament.

“We always knew that the trial would be political, but Minister Palencia is already facing the guilty plea from the people,” Cabezas said.

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