Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the oath of office given to former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s handpicked successor was unconstitutional, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez Garced to become governor and prolonging the US territory’s political crisis.
The unanimous court decision said last week’s swearing in of attorney Pedro Pierluisi was unconstitutional because he had not been confirmed as secretary of state by both chambers of the legislature, which was in recess.
The court said the ruling takes effect at 5 p.m. to ensure an orderly succession.
Pierluisi was expected to replace the disgraced Rosselló, who stepped down as governor following weeks of protests. Rosselló named him Puerto Rico’s secretary of state, placing him next in line to become governor.
But a legal challenge by Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz, a Rosselló rival who himself has sights on the governorship, had asked island’s highest court to intervene.
Infighting within the New Progressive Party
The affair highlights the infighting within Rosselló’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party and threatens to deepen the political turmoil on the island, where protesters have voiced opposition to both Vázquez and Pierluisi.
Pierluisi, 60, is a corporate lawyer for the O’Neill & Borges law firm in San Juan. His firm represents the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico — which Congress created in 2016 to help manage territory’s financial crisis. His brother-in-law is the head of the board, known as la Junta on the island and a target of protesters who helped topple the unpopular Rosselló.
One of the more popular chants among protesters prior to Rosselló’s resignation was “Ricky renuncia y llévate a la Junta” (Ricky resign and take the Junta with you.)
Pierluisi is also the former resident commissioner, the island’s sole non-voting representative in Congress, from 2009-2017. He also served as Puerto Rico’s secretary of justice under former Gov. Pedro Rosselló, the current governor’s father.
Vázquez isn’t much more popular and even took to Twitter recently to say she didn’t want the governorship.
She became secretary of justice in January 2017, and is an ally of Rosselló.
Critics cite Vázquez’s close ties to the outgoing governor as well as her own controversies and limited political experience. They accuse her of failing to open investigations against members of her own party, particularly Rosselló and his administration’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Last year, Vazquez came under fire for allegedly intervening on behalf of her daughter in a case stemming from a home theft. She faced charges of violating government ethics laws. But a judge later ruled there was insufficient evidence to arrest her.
Controversial text messages started the uproar
Rosselló stepped down on Friday following weeks of massive anti-government protests.
Protests were sparked by the release of private chat messages that exposed Rosselló and 11 top aides and Cabinet members exchanging profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages about fellow politicians, members of the media, celebrities and others.
The texting scandal followed years of alleged corruption, a debt crisis and widespread devastation by Hurricane Maria. The leaks and the unrest that followed rocked the island’s administration and led to resignations of several high-profile political figures.
