Puerto Ricans await decision from court on potential governor

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court on Monday agreed to rule on a lawsuit that the island’s Senate filed in a bid to oust a veteran politician recently sworn in as the island’s governor.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction ordering Pedro Pierluisi to cease his functions immediately and also asks that the court declare unconstitutional a 2005 law that says a secretary of state does not have to be approved by both the House and Senate if he or she has to step in as governor.

“I want to put an end to this, but I want to do it correctly,” Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said.

The court gave all parties until noon Tuesday to file all necessary paperwork. If the court finds in favor of the Senate, Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez would become governor, constitutional attorney Carlos Ramos said.

Pierluisi was named secretary of state, the next in line to be governor, in a recess appointment last week. The island’s House of Representatives then confirmed him to the position in a 26-21 vote Friday, a move he argues makes him the replacement for Gov. Ricardo Rossello.

However, the Senate had not yet voted on the appointment.

Rossello resigned Aug. 2 following nearly two weeks of protests amid anger over corruption, mismanagement of funds and a leaked obscenity-laced chat in which he and 11 other men made fun of women, gay people and victims of Hurricane Maria.