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| An Anxious Puerto Rico Waits: Will the Governor Resign? | An Anxious Puerto Rico Waits: Will the Governor Resign? |
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| SAN JUAN, P.R. — An anxious sense of expectation gripped Puerto Rico on Wednesday as Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló kept his people guessing — and waiting for hours — for what appeared to be his imminent resignation. | SAN JUAN, P.R. — An anxious sense of expectation gripped Puerto Rico on Wednesday as Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló kept his people guessing — and waiting for hours — for what appeared to be his imminent resignation. |
| Late in the afternoon, his spokesman said Mr. Rosselló would address the Puerto Rican people by the end of the day. But not a word had been heard from the governor as night fell. | Late in the afternoon, his spokesman said Mr. Rosselló would address the Puerto Rican people by the end of the day. But not a word had been heard from the governor as night fell. |
| The frenzied rumors about when, where and whether Mr. Rosselló would announce his departure paralyzed Puerto Rico’s government at both ends of colonial Old San Juan. At the Capitol, lawmakers announced for the first time that impeachment proceedings against the governor had begun. At the governor’s official residence, hundreds of protesters milled outside throughout the day, celebrating even in advance of the official announcement. | The frenzied rumors about when, where and whether Mr. Rosselló would announce his departure paralyzed Puerto Rico’s government at both ends of colonial Old San Juan. At the Capitol, lawmakers announced for the first time that impeachment proceedings against the governor had begun. At the governor’s official residence, hundreds of protesters milled outside throughout the day, celebrating even in advance of the official announcement. |
| They banged drums, tambourines and kitchen pots — in anger, but also in expectant revelry. | They banged drums, tambourines and kitchen pots — in anger, but also in expectant revelry. |
| “We’re not a small group,” they chanted. “We’re Puerto Rico!” | “We’re not a small group,” they chanted. “We’re Puerto Rico!” |
| But as the night wore on, and there was still no sign of a statement from the governor, the mood in the crowd turned darker. The jubilant family atmosphere that had prevailed earlier in the day gave way to crowds of young people roaming the crowded streets, drinking and shouting. “Resign, assassin!” some of them yelled periodically. | |
| The speaker of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives, Carlos J. Méndez Núñez, said Wednesday night that Mr. Rosselló had broken a pledge with lawmakers from his party to offer a resignation statement by 5 p.m. As a result, he said, the legislative assembly was planning a special session on Thursday to formally initiate impeachment proceedings. He said there were sufficient votes to oust the governor. | |
| Mr. Rosselló would be the first chief executive to step down during a term since Puerto Ricans started electing their governors in 1947. Before the political crisis began, he was expected to seek re-election in 2020. | Mr. Rosselló would be the first chief executive to step down during a term since Puerto Ricans started electing their governors in 1947. Before the political crisis began, he was expected to seek re-election in 2020. |
| The crisis surrounding the governor has followed more than a week of fervent public protests demanding his exit. The demonstrations were touched off by a leaked private group chat on the messaging app Telegram that revealed crude conversations among Mr. Rosselló and his closest advisers — and pointed to possible wrongdoing within their circle. | The crisis surrounding the governor has followed more than a week of fervent public protests demanding his exit. The demonstrations were touched off by a leaked private group chat on the messaging app Telegram that revealed crude conversations among Mr. Rosselló and his closest advisers — and pointed to possible wrongdoing within their circle. |
| Coupled with the recent arrests of six people, including two former top officials, on federal corruption charges, the hundreds of leaked pages ignited public outrage against the governor, whom protesters derided in rhythmic chants as “Ricky.” | Coupled with the recent arrests of six people, including two former top officials, on federal corruption charges, the hundreds of leaked pages ignited public outrage against the governor, whom protesters derided in rhythmic chants as “Ricky.” |
| Even as the governor has dug in his heels, it has become increasingly difficult for him to hang on. Both his chief of staff and the person in charge of the island’s Federal Affairs Administration in Washington resigned on Tuesday. The chief of staff said he could no longer take threats directed at his family, and the Washington aide said the latest developments were contrary to his principles. | Even as the governor has dug in his heels, it has become increasingly difficult for him to hang on. Both his chief of staff and the person in charge of the island’s Federal Affairs Administration in Washington resigned on Tuesday. The chief of staff said he could no longer take threats directed at his family, and the Washington aide said the latest developments were contrary to his principles. |
| Hours later, a top donor to the governor’s political party posted a letter on Twitter asking Mr. Rosselló to resign. | Hours later, a top donor to the governor’s political party posted a letter on Twitter asking Mr. Rosselló to resign. |
| Earlier this week, the governor and his wife tried furiously to give the impression that it was business as usual. The first lady posted photographs online of her visit to a woman’s shelter on Monday, only to have the shelter directors come out publicly the next day and ask her to take the pictures down. The governor posted photos of staff meetings while protesters rallied angrily in the streets. | Earlier this week, the governor and his wife tried furiously to give the impression that it was business as usual. The first lady posted photographs online of her visit to a woman’s shelter on Monday, only to have the shelter directors come out publicly the next day and ask her to take the pictures down. The governor posted photos of staff meetings while protesters rallied angrily in the streets. |
| By Tuesday, though, the governor and his remaining aides were out of sight, hunkered down in the governor’s official residence, La Fortaleza, or elsewhere. Mr. Rosselló’s whereabouts have been somewhat of a mystery in recent days. | By Tuesday, though, the governor and his remaining aides were out of sight, hunkered down in the governor’s official residence, La Fortaleza, or elsewhere. Mr. Rosselló’s whereabouts have been somewhat of a mystery in recent days. |
| The scandal took on potential criminal overtones on Tuesday when the Puerto Rico Department of Justice confirmed that search warrants had been executed seizing the cellphones of several people who participated in the chat. | The scandal took on potential criminal overtones on Tuesday when the Puerto Rico Department of Justice confirmed that search warrants had been executed seizing the cellphones of several people who participated in the chat. |
| The Puerto Rico Bar Association issued a report suggesting that seven potential crimes had been revealed in the chat, including an implied threat against the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, as well as possible instances of diversion of funds, conspiracy, improper disclosure of private information and intention to terminate employment based on political beliefs. | The Puerto Rico Bar Association issued a report suggesting that seven potential crimes had been revealed in the chat, including an implied threat against the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, as well as possible instances of diversion of funds, conspiracy, improper disclosure of private information and intention to terminate employment based on political beliefs. |
| But the clamor in the streets reflected grievances that went deeper than the chat. Puerto Ricans said they had enough after years of financial mismanagement and the poor government response to Hurricane Maria, which ravaged Puerto Rico, a United States commonwealth, nine months after Mr. Rosselló took office in 2017. The government estimated that nearly 3,000 people died. | But the clamor in the streets reflected grievances that went deeper than the chat. Puerto Ricans said they had enough after years of financial mismanagement and the poor government response to Hurricane Maria, which ravaged Puerto Rico, a United States commonwealth, nine months after Mr. Rosselló took office in 2017. The government estimated that nearly 3,000 people died. |
| In the chat, one of Mr. Rosselló’s aides joked about using the overflow of bodies at the island’s morgues as bait for the administration’s foes: “Don’t we have some cadavers to feed our crows?” | In the chat, one of Mr. Rosselló’s aides joked about using the overflow of bodies at the island’s morgues as bait for the administration’s foes: “Don’t we have some cadavers to feed our crows?” |
| Anger at such tone-deaf exchanges united Puerto Ricans of all stripes, including many who had never protested before. Popular musicians rallied millions of fans on social media. The artists known as Residente, iLe and Bad Bunny produced a protest song, “Afilando los Cuchillos” (Sharpening the Knives), that became a street anthem. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans escalated the uprising on Monday by shutting down a major highway in San Juan. | Anger at such tone-deaf exchanges united Puerto Ricans of all stripes, including many who had never protested before. Popular musicians rallied millions of fans on social media. The artists known as Residente, iLe and Bad Bunny produced a protest song, “Afilando los Cuchillos” (Sharpening the Knives), that became a street anthem. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans escalated the uprising on Monday by shutting down a major highway in San Juan. |
| “We’re sick of the corruption, of the abuse,” said Misael Correa Robles, 26, a college student from Carolina, P.R., who attended the protests. “It’s been decades of this.” | “We’re sick of the corruption, of the abuse,” said Misael Correa Robles, 26, a college student from Carolina, P.R., who attended the protests. “It’s been decades of this.” |
| On Wednesday morning, the walls of Calle Fortaleza, the street leading to the governor’s official residence, were blanketed with political graffiti that read like a wish list: “The Day After the Resignation: Celebrate! End the Junta. Total Transparency. Investigate the Criminals.” | On Wednesday morning, the walls of Calle Fortaleza, the street leading to the governor’s official residence, were blanketed with political graffiti that read like a wish list: “The Day After the Resignation: Celebrate! End the Junta. Total Transparency. Investigate the Criminals.” |
| Alejandro Santiago Calderón, 30, said that the leaked Telegram messages confirmed what many Puerto Ricans had suspected about the governor and his political allies — that they had disdain for the public. Like many others, he said the governor’s potential resignation would not be enough to quell his sense that the island’s political establishment needed to be shaken up. | Alejandro Santiago Calderón, 30, said that the leaked Telegram messages confirmed what many Puerto Ricans had suspected about the governor and his political allies — that they had disdain for the public. Like many others, he said the governor’s potential resignation would not be enough to quell his sense that the island’s political establishment needed to be shaken up. |
| “This has to change, and it has to change from the top all the way to the bottom,” he said. | “This has to change, and it has to change from the top all the way to the bottom,” he said. |
| The stunning events of the past two weeks have felt like a turning point after Puerto Ricans had endured years of economic pain. A recession on the island has lasted more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands of people have left. A debt crisis has bankrupted the government. Congress placed Puerto Rico’s finances under the control of a federal oversight board. Then came the hurricane. Some people were without electricity for almost a year afterward. | The stunning events of the past two weeks have felt like a turning point after Puerto Ricans had endured years of economic pain. A recession on the island has lasted more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands of people have left. A debt crisis has bankrupted the government. Congress placed Puerto Rico’s finances under the control of a federal oversight board. Then came the hurricane. Some people were without electricity for almost a year afterward. |
| When the protests erupted, both in San Juan and in mainland cities that are home to members of the vast Puerto Rican diaspora, the governor resisted relinquishing his position. He said he had acted inappropriately but not unlawfully in the group chat, and vowed to finish his term, which runs through 2020. | When the protests erupted, both in San Juan and in mainland cities that are home to members of the vast Puerto Rican diaspora, the governor resisted relinquishing his position. He said he had acted inappropriately but not unlawfully in the group chat, and vowed to finish his term, which runs through 2020. |
| But as crowds continued to gather outside La Fortaleza and the unrest spread to other parts of the island, leaders from San Juan to Washington abandoned Mr. Rosselló. He has been left to choose between resigning and facing a lengthy and embarrassing impeachment orchestrated by his own New Progressive Party. | But as crowds continued to gather outside La Fortaleza and the unrest spread to other parts of the island, leaders from San Juan to Washington abandoned Mr. Rosselló. He has been left to choose between resigning and facing a lengthy and embarrassing impeachment orchestrated by his own New Progressive Party. |
| Mr. Rosselló tried to buy time by announcing on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, and that he would step down as president of his party. All that did, however, was intensify the resolve of the people on the streets, who insisted that only his resignation would suffice. | Mr. Rosselló tried to buy time by announcing on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, and that he would step down as president of his party. All that did, however, was intensify the resolve of the people on the streets, who insisted that only his resignation would suffice. |
| Calls for the governor’s resignation have come from all corners of the island and from Washington, where Republican and Democratic lawmakers said Mr. Rosselló had lost so much credibility that Congress might be less likely to disburse important federal aid to Puerto Rico. | Calls for the governor’s resignation have come from all corners of the island and from Washington, where Republican and Democratic lawmakers said Mr. Rosselló had lost so much credibility that Congress might be less likely to disburse important federal aid to Puerto Rico. |
| (Puerto Rico’s political parties do not neatly align with those on the mainland. Mr. Rosselló is a Democrat in national politics, though many members of the island’s New Progressive Party are Republicans.) | (Puerto Rico’s political parties do not neatly align with those on the mainland. Mr. Rosselló is a Democrat in national politics, though many members of the island’s New Progressive Party are Republicans.) |
| On Monday, El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper, ran a front-page editorial with the headline, “Governor, it’s time to listen to the people: You must resign.” | On Monday, El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper, ran a front-page editorial with the headline, “Governor, it’s time to listen to the people: You must resign.” |
| Mr. Rosselló’s departure would end a political dynasty in Puerto Rico. His father, Pedro J. Rosselló, was governor from 1993 through 2000. | Mr. Rosselló’s departure would end a political dynasty in Puerto Rico. His father, Pedro J. Rosselló, was governor from 1993 through 2000. |
| Corruption scandals plagued the elder Mr. Rosselló’s administration. The scandals did not force him to resign, but they did appear to keep him from winning a third term. | Corruption scandals plagued the elder Mr. Rosselló’s administration. The scandals did not force him to resign, but they did appear to keep him from winning a third term. |
| The elder Mr. Rosselló resigned from the New Progressive Party on Monday. | The elder Mr. Rosselló resigned from the New Progressive Party on Monday. |