The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico has declared unconstitutional Wednesday the inauguration of Pedro Pierluisi as governor, after the lawsuit filed by the Senate.
In its statement, the court has pointed out that the clause added to a 1952 law for a secretary of state to become governor without the support of the two houses of Congress is “unconstitutional,” a vote that has resulted in “unanimity.” “.
Pierluisi swore the position on Friday after the outgoing governor, Ricardo Rosselló, left him in office after his resignation and despite the Senate ruling on it.
Rosselló said in a statement that the oath of office took place after the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico “approved the appointment of Pierluisi as secretary of state” and stressed that this is done “in accordance with the current rule of law.”
In this regard, he argued that the Constitution establishes that “when a vacancy occurs in the office of governor caused by death, resignation, dismissal, total and permanent disability, or for any other absolute failure, said office shall pass to the Secretary of State, who will play for the rest of the term and until a new governor is elected and takes office. “
However, the president of the Senate, Thomas Rivera Schatz, criticized through his account on the social network Facebook that “the recent expressions of the outgoing governor on how to transition after his embarrassing departure are more than eloquent.”
“They reflect his true intentions. He never regretted anything. He did not respect the people’s claim. In fact, he scoffed, using new accomplices,” said Rivera Schatz, who had set the vote in the Senate on Wednesday.
Rivera Schatz himself said on August 1 that Pierluisi does not have enough support to be confirmed in the position. “Pedro Pierluisi doesn’t have the majority votes. He doesn’t have them,” he said.
He also said that “the lawyer of who has been the number one enemy of Puerto Rico (in reference to the Fiscal Oversight Board), cannot be in command of Puerto Rico.”
MOBILIZATIONS AGAINST ROSELLÓ
Hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated in recent weeks to demand the resignation of Rosselló and have accused Pierluisi of serving the interests of the said body, and not those of the population.
Rosselló presented his resignation at the end of July after protests about the publication of a series of messages containing comments in which he was asked to persecute opposition politicians and officials.
This resignation became effective on August 2. The controversy over who will hold the position has occurred after the island’s secretary of Justice, Wanda Vázquez, Rosselló’s designated successor, resigned from becoming governor.
