Puerto Rico awaits court ruling on governor
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Attorneys submitted arguments by a Tuesday noon deadline in what many consider the biggest decision in the 119-year history of Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court: Who will be the governor of the U.S. territory mired in political and economic turmoil?
After a sustained protest movement led to the resignation of the previous governor, the island’s 3.2 million people now await the final outcome of the constitutional deadlock pitting Puerto Rico’s Senate against Pedro Pierluisi, who was sworn in as governor late Friday.
“We don’t have any other choice except to wait,” said Rita Miranda, a condominium administrator. “We’re in a serious economic crisis, we’re in a serious social crisis, and this is making it worse.”
Puerto Rico’s nine-member Supreme Court was in summer recess when it decided to take up the lawsuit filed late Sunday by senators seeking a preliminary injunction ordering Pierluisi to immediately cease functioning as governor.
If the Supreme Court finds in favor of the Senate, Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez would become governor, though she said she doesn’t want the job.
Pierluisi was named secretary of state while the legislature was out of session last week, and only the House approved his recess appointment. The lawsuit also asks the court to declare unconstitutional a 2005 law saying a secretary of state need not be approved by both the House and Senate if he or she has to step in as governor.
Puerto Rico’s constitution, it notes, says a secretary of state must be approved by both chambers.
It was not clear whether the Supreme Court would hold a hearing or simply issue a written opinion. There is no deadline, though legal experts expect a decision within days.