Divided Puerto Ricans head to polls to vote on U.S. statehood
Puerto Ricans head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether they want their
struggling U.S. territory to become the 51st U.S. state, although a vote in
favor would likely face an uphill battle in Congress and with President Donald
Trump.
The vote comes at a time of economic hardship for the island, hamstrung by
$70 billion in debt, a 45-percent poverty rate, woefully underperforming
schools, and near-insolvent pension and health systems.
Puerto Rico's hazy political status, dating back to its 1898 acquisition by
the United States from Spain, has contributed to the economic crisis that pushed
it last month into the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
"Statehood hasn't come in the past 120 years. Why would Donald Trump want to
make this bankrupt island a state now? It will be another 120 years before that
happens," said Miriam Gonzalez, a 66-year-old retiree in San Juan.
Heading into the plebiscite, Puerto Ricans mingling on the quaint and narrow
streets of old San Juan were divided over the three options they will face on
Sunday's ballot: becoming a U.S. state; remaining a territory; or becoming an
independent nation, with or without some continuing political association with
the United States.
Under the current system, Puerto Rico's 3.5 million American citizens do not
pay federal taxes, vote for U.S. presidents or receive proportionate federal
funding on programs like Medicaid, though the U.S. government oversees policy
and financial areas such as infrastructure, defense and trade.
Puerto Rico's recently elected governor Ricardo Rossello campaigned last year
on holding a referendum.
Rossello's New Progressive Party (PNP) party, which controls Puerto Rico's
government, is premised on a pro-statehood stance, while the opposition Popular
Democratic Party (PPD) supports versions of the current territory status and a
third party, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), supports
independence.
A spokesman for the governor told Reuters he will push Congress to respect a
result in favor of statehood, but Puerto Rico is seen as a low priority in
Washington.
The status referendum is Puerto Rico's fifth since 1967. Statehood won in the
last referendum in 2012, though PPD leaders instructed constituents to leave
blank hundreds of thousands of ballots, calling the result into question.
"Statehood isn't going to happen and the status quo is a trap," said
23-year-old engineering and economics student Daniel Montalvo. "At this point, I
think gradual independence is the best option."
Source: Reuters
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