Puerto Ricans react to swearing-in of new governor

(2 Aug 2019) Residents of Puerto Rico reacted to Governor Ricardo Rosselló's resignation on Friday and the swearing in of veteran politician Pedro Pierluisi as his replacement, a move certain to throw the U.S. territory into a period of political chaos that will be fought out in court.
Rosselló's resignation came in response to weeks of popular protest over mismanagement and a series of leaked chats in which he and advisers denigrated a range of Puerto Ricans.
In an emailed announcement from his office, Rosselló said Pierluisi did not need confirmation from both houses of the territory's legislature because he was named secretary of state, the next in line to be governor, in a recess appointment this week.
The statement said Pierluisi will be sworn in to complete Rosselló's term, but it did not say exactly when.
Rosselló had promised to resign at 5 p.m., a few minutes before the statement was sent.
The down-to-the-wire maneuvering risked political chaos and a constitutional crisis and sowed bitterness and pessimism among Puerto Ricans about the fate of their island, which has been battered by years of bankruptcy and Hurricane Maria in 2017, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
On Friday, Puerto Ricans bemoaned the chaos that left them not knowing who would be their next governor.
"It's not going to be an easy year (for Pedro Pierluisi) because everyone is going to be judging and watching," 62-year-old pathologist Wilma Virella Santana said.
Hundreds of protesters marched to the governor's residence, the Fortaleza, banging pots and drums and singing the national anthem.
Protesters had not been highly critical of Pierluisi before Friday but expressed disgust with the succession process and Pierluisi's ties to the federal control board that has promoted cutbacks on the island.
Puerto Rico's House of Representatives voted 26-21, with one abstention to confirm Pierluisi as secretary of state.
The legislature, which is controlled by Pierluisi's New Progressive Party, erupted into cheers when the deciding vote was cast.
Some lawmakers and officials believe that because the legislature was not in session when Pierluisi was appointed, he was already secretary of state.
Others argue that he still needs to be confirmed by the House or both the House and Senate.
One constitutional amendment states that everyone in line to become governor has to be confirmed by both House and Senate, except for the secretary of state.
Lawmakers and Pierluisi himself expressed concern that the continuing political uncertainty would damage Puerto Rico's efforts to get federal funds to recover from the hurricane and confront the economic crisis.
A key obstacle for Pierluisi has been Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who has said he would not vote for Rosselló's nominee and wants to run for governor himself next year.
Several legislators have said they prefer Rivera Schatz over Pierluisi, but the Senate leader is a powerful figure deeply associated with Puerto Rico's political and business elite, and his elevation to the governorship could re-ignite popular outrage.
Rivera Schatz has scheduled a Senate hearing on Pierluisi for Monday.
Pierluisi was Puerto Rico's non-voting representative in Congress from 2009 to 2017 and then ran against Rosselló in the 2016 primaries and lost.
He also served as justice secretary under Rosselló's father, Pedro Rosselló, when he was governor.

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