In 2005, following Santiago Creel's resignation, Abascal was appointed Secretary of the Interior.
On February 24, 2005, he expressed interest in becoming the PAN presidential candidate and campaigned for a few months before quitting on July 7, arguing partisan favoritism towards the former minister of the interior, Santiago Creel.
Santiago | Santiago de Chile | Santiago de Compostela | Santiago del Estero | Santiago de Cuba | Santiago de los Caballeros | Santiago Calatrava | University of Santiago de Compostela | Order of Santiago | Santiago Ramón y Cajal | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Santiago Metro | Esmeralda Santiago | Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil | Santiago del Estero Province | Santiago (commune) | Santiago Carrillo | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | Rafael Cordero Santiago | Moisés Santiago Bertoni | Joey Santiago | Hugo Santiago | Emílio Santiago | Archbishop of Santiago | University of Santiago | Santiago Province, Chile | Santiago (DR) | Santiago de Veraguas | Santiago de Chuco Province | Santiago de Chuco |