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News :: Latin America : Political-Economy : Regime |
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Puerto Rican legislature paralyzed by losing gubernatorial candidate鈥檚 quest for power |
Current rating: 0 |
by Philip Stinard
Email: pstinard (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
19 May 2005
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Pedro Rossell贸, defeated New Progressive Party (NPP) candidate for Puerto Rican Governor in the November 2004 elections, has brought Puerto Rican Senate business nearly to a standstill in his unrelenting quest for the presidency of that legislative body. The Puerto Rican people rejected Rossell贸 as governor in the 2004 election, Rossell贸 was not elected to the Puerto Rican Senate and Rossell贸 does not have the support of his fellow Senators to be Senate President. However, in Puerto Rican politics, these are just minor inconveniences. |
 Losing gubernatorial candidate Pedro Rossell贸. Photo by Ram贸n 'Tonito' Zayas, El Nuevo D铆a, San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
Pedro Rossell贸, defeated New Progressive Party (NPP) candidate for Puerto Rican Governor in the November 2004 elections, has brought Puerto Rican Senate business nearly to a standstill in his unrelenting quest for the presidency of that legislative body. After losing a hotly contested election to Popular Democratic Party (PDP) candidate An铆bal Acevedo Vil谩, the former Governor (1993-2001) and NPP President vowed to rule Puerto Rico from the Senate, and he was not content with being 鈥渏ust another Senator,鈥 he had to be Senate President. He only had two obstacles in his way: he was not a Senator, and the Senate had already elected a President, NPP Senator Kenneth McClintock.
No stranger to corruption during his previous stint as governor (cabinet members and political associates diverted public funds for AIDS treatment to NPP politicians, used public monies for partisan political activities, sold off public assets to cronies, etc.), Rossell贸 exercised all of the political pressure at his disposal, cajoling, threatening, and bribing the newly elected Senators from his party in the hopes that one would resign so that he could be appointed in their stead. The pressure paid off, and a Senator from Rossell贸鈥檚 home district of Arecibo (alleged home district, since Rossell贸 had recently moved to Puerto Rico from Virginia to run for governor 鈥渁t the request of the people of Puerto Rico鈥) resigned hours after being sworn in. After Rossell贸 occupied the empty seat, he expected his party鈥檚 Senators to lie down at his feet and declare him Senate President, but he had forgotten that he had personally approved McClintock鈥檚 presidency at a November 4 party caucus, following the election, but before a winner was declared in the gubernatorial race, and McClintock was not going to give up his position of privilege willingly.
Rossell贸 used his position as NPP President to convene an assembly of NPP delegates on May 15, and he set the following rules: the delegates were to select the Senate President from between Rossell贸 and McClintock, and any Senator who did not vote for the President chosen by the assembly would be disciplined, up to and including expulsion from the NPP. The results were a foregone conclusion. McClintock supporters boycotted the assembly, and fewer than 50% of the eligible delegates voted. Among the delegates who did vote, 96% supported Rossell贸, and Rossell贸 declared a mandate for assuming the Senate Presidency. 鈥淭he people have spoken, and I must obey.鈥
As of May 18, McClintock still has a slim majority of Senators who support him in the Presidency. Rossell贸, however, has not remained silent, preferring to maintain his campaign of cognitive dissonance and disinformation. Rossell贸 quotes from recent days include, 鈥淚 am not seeking any position. I am following the will of the Puerto Rican people,鈥 and 鈥淚 will pursue the [Senate Presidency] for the entire four years, if necessary.鈥 Remember that the Puerto Rican people rejected Rossell贸 as governor in the 2004 election, Rossell贸 was not elected to the Puerto Rican Senate and Rossell贸 does not have the support of his fellow Senators to be Senate President (as of May 18, but remember that in Puerto Rico, nothing twists easier than a politician鈥檚 arm).
Rossell贸鈥檚 power grab has implications that go beyond Puerto Rico鈥檚 shores. Puerto Rico is a US territory without voting representation in the US Congress. Rossell贸鈥檚 NPP Party supports statehood for Puerto Rico, and as a state, Puerto Rico would have two US Senators and at least seven Congressmen, most of whom would likely be Democrats. Furthermore, Rossell贸 is a Democrat and McClintock and his supporters are Republicans. However, current PDP Governor Acevedo Vil谩 is also a Democrat, and although he is Rossell贸鈥檚 sworn political enemy, he has the ear of the US Democratic Party. Stateside Republican Party leaders are in the awkward position of opposing statehood for Puerto Rico (a future Democratic state) while at the same time kissing up to a megalomaniacal political leader who happens to be a Democrat and courting the pro-statehood Puerto Rican Republicans who oppose him.
The political fight between McClintock and Rossell贸 has slowed down Senate business to a crawl, and Puerto Rican Export Council President Jos茅 Gonz谩lez says that Puerto Rico鈥檚 economic competitiveness is suffering as a result. The legislature has been unable to confirm a Secretary of State, and as a result, Puerto Rico has not had any representation in CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) discussions. The Export Council was forced to suspend meetings with US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans Hertel, who was originally scheduled to visit Puerto Rico to explain how CAFTA would affect the Puerto Rican economy. Furthermore, McClintock admits that the Senate has not passed any legislation to address Puerto Rico鈥檚 economic crisis. |
 Puerto Rican Senate President Kenneth McClintock. Photo by Ram贸n 'Tonito' Zayas, El Nuevo D铆a, San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
See also:
http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display_any/23180
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This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: Puerto Rican legislature paralyzed by losing gubernatorial candidate鈥檚 quest for power |
by interested
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 May 2005
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Greatr article, Phil. Thanks for posting. Can't remember the last time I saw something on the UCIMC's website in relation to international interests. Please keep us informed. |
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Re: Puerto Rican legislature paralyzed by losing gubernatorial candidate鈥檚 quest for power |
by Walter Santoni
walter (nospam) newtools.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
29 May 2005
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Pedro Rossello is the only person in history to get over a million votes that was in 1996. And this past election he had the most legal votes. But the supreme court made up of 4 pdp judges (the other party) and only 3 judges of the statehood party voted along party lines.
these four pdp judges decided that a ballot for three candidates could have two marks. You explain that, they dont believe in one man one vote. This election was not legal, and everybody knowsit. WE NEED PEDRO ROSSELLO NOW MORE TAN EVER. |
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Re: Puerto Rican legislature paralyzed by losing gubernatorial candidate鈥檚 quest for power |
by edward carlson
ids (nospam) coqui.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
07 Jun 2005
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The PNP will be close to extinction if Pedro Rosello rises to be President of the Senate. If he expects to be the PNP candidate for Governor in 2008 he is dreaming. If he does get nominated, the PNP will lose again. Open your eyes PNPETE ! |
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Re: Puerto Rican legislature paralyzed by losing gubernatorial candidate鈥檚 quest for power |
by trucutu
iepeto (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
16 Jun 2005
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He stole our money, attempted to steal the elections and now is attempting to steal democracy |
