Albuquerque Journal

Puerto Rico, with 3 governors in a week, considers a 4th

Rep.: ‘What’s best for us is unity’

- BY DÁNICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A day after Puerto Rico got its third governor in less than a week following angry street protests, top officials from new leader Wanda Vázquez’s own party were talking openly Thursday about their desire to see a fourth take over the position.

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who played a key role in the successful court challenge to the swearing-in of Pedro Pierluisi after Gov. Ricardo Rosselló resigned, publicly backed Resident Commission­er Jenniffer González — Puerto Rico’s representa­tive to the U.S. Congress — as governor. Party allies appeared to fall in line.

“The leadership … basically agrees that Jenniffer should be the governor,” said José Meléndez of the New Progressiv­e Party. “It is a matter that must be treated bit by bit because we do not know what is in the mind of Wanda Vázquez.”

But “Jenniffer is the consensus person,” he added. “This should happen quickly, but it depends on what the governor says. … The key to breaking the bottleneck lies with Wanda Vázquez.”

For González to become governor, she would have to be nominated to the open secretary of state position and confirmed. Then, Vázquez would have to resign, though the new governor said she did not intend to step down, despite previous comments that she didn’t want the job.

Rivera Schatz held a closed-door meeting with senators, legislator­s and González on Thursday morning.

“We truly don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Mayor Francisco López of the central mountain town of Barranquit­as, who expressed support for González.

“We will discuss pros and cons,” said Rep. María de Lourdes Ramos, who said she does not necessaril­y share the Senate president’s views on González. “Right now, what’s best for us is unity.”

González said the presidents of the House and Senate called her last weekend asking if she was available to become secretary of state as a candidate of consensus, and she agreed if it would help restore credibilit­y and stability to Puerto Rico.

“There must be fundamenta­l changes in the entire structure of government, in all cabinet officials and in all contracts that the government of Puerto Rico has,” González said, adding that she would meet with Vázquez later Thursday. “It’s time that people and not politician­s become the priority.”

González also warned that the U.S. government has doubts about how the island is handling federal funds: “The specter of corruption has called into question access to those funds. … They don’t trust Puerto Rico’s institutio­ns or its officials.”

Even after a Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that Pierluisi had been placed in office unconstitu­tionally, resulting in Vázquez swearing in as governor the same evening, people on the economical­ly struggling territory of 3.2 million were already bracing for more turmoil.

The political establishm­ent was knocked off balance by huge street protests spawned by anger over corruption, mismanagem­ent of funds and a leaked obscenity-laced chat in which Rosselló and several top aides disparaged women, gay people and victims of Hurricane Maria, among others.

 ?? DENNIS M. RIVERA PICHARDO/ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Protesters gather outside the government mansion in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, calling for the removal of the island’s latest sworn-in governor.
DENNIS M. RIVERA PICHARDO/ASSOCIATED PRESS Protesters gather outside the government mansion in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, calling for the removal of the island’s latest sworn-in governor.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States