News From of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico manifest desire for change in political status

Puerto Ricans were manifested in a consultative referendum in favor of changing the island's status as a territory associated with the United States, preferring to become the 51st U.S. state, according to official results released on Wednesday.


In the same vote, Gov. Luis Fortuno, favorable to the status of State, was defeated in re-election bid.

The referendum on Tuesday presented two questions.

The first was whether Puerto Rico should maintain its current status of the autonomous community (nearly 54 percent said they do not). Under this status, Puerto Ricans are considered U.S. citizens but can not vote for president, and only maintain a non-voting representative in the House of Representatives.

The second question asked the voter, regardless of the answer to the first question, chose among three options: become a U.S. state, become an independent country or have a sovereign free association with the United States.

The state option won with 66 percent of the vote, followed by the association sovereign, with 33 percent. The independence was less than 6 percent of preferences. This count does not take into account the blank votes, which were almost a third of the total. Taking them into account, support for full incorporation is nearly 45 percent support.

The referendum does not have the force of law - is advisory only. His call was supported by Fortuno, the New Progressive Party.

On Wednesday, he conceded defeat in the race for the island's government for Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla, the Peoples Democratic Party, in favor of free association with Washington.

With 96 percent of votes counted, García Padilla had 47.85 percent of the vote against 47.04 percent Fortuno. The main challenges of the new governor will be to restore fiscal balance, promote the resumption of growth, reduce unemployment and fight crime.

The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, then a Spanish colony, a war in 1898. In 1952, the island was elevated to the status of community self-government, and since then four times the local electorate manifested by keeping this situation - albeit with a margin shrinking.

Any change in the status of Puerto Rico must be approved by the U.S. Congress.