Puerto Rico will get a new governor today. But who?

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Less than 24 hours before Gov. Ricardo Rossello was expected to leave office, Puerto Ricans had no idea who would replace him as political chaos threatened to paralyze the island with a constitutional crisis.

Rossello has promised to step down at 5 p.m. island time today in response to huge street protests by Puerto Ricans outraged at corruption, mismanagement and an obscenity-laced chat that was leaked in which the governor and 11 male allies made fun of women, gay people and victims of Hurricane Maria.

As one of his last acts, Rossello put forward veteran politician and lawyer Pedro Pierluisi to fill the vacant secretary of state post, next in line for the governorship under the U.S. territory’s constitution.

Pierluisi is a former representative to the U.S. Congress seen by most ordinary Puerto Ricans as a conciliatory, relatively uncontroversial figure, unlikely to be met by continued street demonstrations.

“I offered to take a step forward for Puerto Rico at this moment given my love for my country,” Pierluisi said.

The Puerto Rican House of Representatives is expected to vote on Pierluisi’s confirmation this afternoon.

If he is rejected, Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez automatically becomes governor as the next in the order of succession, even though she has said she would unwillingly accept the job.

Some lawmakers said a House vote for Pierluisi would count as confirmation and allow him to assume the governorship.

Opponents said he requires Senate approval, too, and they would sue to stop him becoming governor without that.