Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced this evening that the Puerto Rican government would proceed with the June 11th plebiscite despite the refusal of the U.S. Department of Justice to authorize the ballot without giving voters the option to remain a U.S. territory.
“It is unacceptable to include the colony in a process to decolonize [Puerto Rico],” tweeted the governor upon hearing the news late in the afternoon.
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States.
Governor Rosselló met with Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzales-Colon, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, and House Majority Leader Carlos J. “Johnny” Méndez Núñez to discuss their response to the U.S. Department of Justice ruling. The leaders reached an agreement to amend the plebiscite local law to comply with the federal position.
Despite the request of eight U.S. Senators to include a “Commonwealth” option on the ballot, the Justice Department did not conclude that “Commonwealth” was a valid ballot option for the upcoming plebiscite.
“There are no excuses. Let’s go to the Plebiscite,” tweeted Governor Rosselló.
This seems silly, but by having it be one of the three options, perhaps statehood can still win a clear majority.
How stupid this is, I guess the independentistas and stadolibristas don’t have the cojones to face their own realities- they know that it will make PR once again “the Poor House of the Caribbean” like in the forties. I just hope that Puerto Ricans will put an end to the Puerto Rican elite and those milking the colony game and make a solid choice to make it a state and move forward
How can the Puerto Ricans in the state vote in this Plebiscites on June 2017
Only registered voters living in Puerto Rico can vote in the plebiscite.