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| What Is Behind the Protests in Puerto Rico? | What Is Behind the Protests in Puerto Rico? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Suddenly, San Juan, P.R., is in turmoil. Growing numbers of angry protesters have been marching in the streets and converging on La Fortaleza, the official residence of Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló, where police officers in riot gear have fired tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets into the crowds. | Suddenly, San Juan, P.R., is in turmoil. Growing numbers of angry protesters have been marching in the streets and converging on La Fortaleza, the official residence of Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló, where police officers in riot gear have fired tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets into the crowds. |
| Here are answers to some basic questions about the unrest and its roots. | Here are answers to some basic questions about the unrest and its roots. |
| The spark was lit on Saturday by the publication of hundreds of pages of crass, insensitive and often profane chat messages among Mr. Rosselló and 11 men in his inner circle. Besides being offensive, the messages revealed a cozy relationship between Mr. Rosselló and former staff members who now represent special interests. Outraged Puerto Ricans took to the streets and have protested every day since then. | The spark was lit on Saturday by the publication of hundreds of pages of crass, insensitive and often profane chat messages among Mr. Rosselló and 11 men in his inner circle. Besides being offensive, the messages revealed a cozy relationship between Mr. Rosselló and former staff members who now represent special interests. Outraged Puerto Ricans took to the streets and have protested every day since then. |
| The protests are about much more than just the unseemly chat messages. They amount to a rejection of decades of mismanagement by leaders who always seemed to benefit while ordinary Puerto Ricans suffered. Grievances have been building up over 12 years of economic recession, a debt crisis that has prompted layoffs and cutbacks in public services and the botched response to Hurricane Maria. | The protests are about much more than just the unseemly chat messages. They amount to a rejection of decades of mismanagement by leaders who always seemed to benefit while ordinary Puerto Ricans suffered. Grievances have been building up over 12 years of economic recession, a debt crisis that has prompted layoffs and cutbacks in public services and the botched response to Hurricane Maria. |
| The chat messages and the arrests last week of six people with ties to the Rosselló government were the last straws for many Puerto Ricans, who said they could no longer tolerate mocking, profanity and corruption, real or perceived, by leaders who were supposed to be fighting on their behalf in Washington and San Juan. | The chat messages and the arrests last week of six people with ties to the Rosselló government were the last straws for many Puerto Ricans, who said they could no longer tolerate mocking, profanity and corruption, real or perceived, by leaders who were supposed to be fighting on their behalf in Washington and San Juan. |
| They want to be rid of both Mr. Rosselló and another target of their ire, the unelected oversight board created by Congress to manage the finances of the island’s government, which owes far more than it can pay to its creditors. Thousands of government workers have been laid off, services have been cut, tuition raised and schools closed as Puerto Rico has struggled to resolve the debt crisis; none of that has been popular. | They want to be rid of both Mr. Rosselló and another target of their ire, the unelected oversight board created by Congress to manage the finances of the island’s government, which owes far more than it can pay to its creditors. Thousands of government workers have been laid off, services have been cut, tuition raised and schools closed as Puerto Rico has struggled to resolve the debt crisis; none of that has been popular. |
| Mr. Rosselló has tried at times to push back against “la junta,” as the board is known. But many Puerto Ricans lump the two together in their frustration and fury. The protesters have taken to chanting “Ricky, renuncia, y llévate a la junta” — Ricky, resign, and take the board with you. | Mr. Rosselló has tried at times to push back against “la junta,” as the board is known. But many Puerto Ricans lump the two together in their frustration and fury. The protesters have taken to chanting “Ricky, renuncia, y llévate a la junta” — Ricky, resign, and take the board with you. |
| Mr. Rosselló, whose term runs through 2020, said on Thursday that he did not intend to resign. But private negotiations over a transition abound in San Juan, and some politicians have spoken of impeaching him. Legislative leaders have asked a panel of jurists to issue a recommendation on whether to pursue impeachment charges. | Mr. Rosselló, whose term runs through 2020, said on Thursday that he did not intend to resign. But private negotiations over a transition abound in San Juan, and some politicians have spoken of impeaching him. Legislative leaders have asked a panel of jurists to issue a recommendation on whether to pursue impeachment charges. |
| One complication is that Puerto Rico has no lieutenant governor to take his place. The island’s secretary of state is supposed to step in as acting governor when needed, but that post is currently vacant — and the power to fill it belongs to Mr. Rosselló, though his nominee would have to be approved by the island’s legislature. Leaders of the governing New Progressive Party are scrambling to find a candidate. | One complication is that Puerto Rico has no lieutenant governor to take his place. The island’s secretary of state is supposed to step in as acting governor when needed, but that post is currently vacant — and the power to fill it belongs to Mr. Rosselló, though his nominee would have to be approved by the island’s legislature. Leaders of the governing New Progressive Party are scrambling to find a candidate. |
| If there is no secretary of state, the governorship would go next to the secretary of justice, Wanda Vázquez Garced, but powerful legislative leaders from her party do not seem interested in having that happen. | If there is no secretary of state, the governorship would go next to the secretary of justice, Wanda Vázquez Garced, but powerful legislative leaders from her party do not seem interested in having that happen. |