Mónica Palencia

Mónica Rosa Irene Palencia Núñez is a Mexican-born lawyer who emigrated as an adult to Ecuador. She became the Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior and a citizen of Ecuador in 2023.

Life Mónica Rosa Irene Palencia Núñez She then emigrated to Ecuador where she continued her education in Guayaquil where she obtained a master's degree.

She had lived in Ecuador "for more than forty years" and she became a citizen of Ecuador in 2023 "minutes before" she joined the government. In April 2024 she was confirmed as the Minister of the Interior, with Michele Sensi Contugi taking over her role as the Minister for Government.

One of her ministerial trips was back to Mexico where she spoke of the new Ecuadorian President's regard for democracy.

Palencia faced impeachment over her role in the arrest of a disgraced politician inside the Mexican Embassy. Independent assembly member Lucía Posso noted that the law was being used to control politicians but ministers must face that this was necessary as the executive must "be accountable to the Plenary". On 3 September the assembly passed a resolution that delayed the impeachment of Palencia.

There was a referendum in Ecuador on 21 April 2024, and the following day President Noboa replaced part of Palencia's role with Michel Sensi Contugi, the Minister of Government. The next day he also replaced the Minister of Education; Alegría Crespo was appointed on 22 April 2024 to replace Daniel Calderón.