Gov. Ricardo Rosselló doesn’t want to give up his seat. (Image via: Latinxtoday)

Puerto Rico Governor Faces Strong Protests Due to Leaked Private Chat

Kirana Chandra Mumpuni Budiana
Politics & Economic
International
Jul 16, 2019
2208
The people of Puerto Rico organize protests in all over the capital city. They demand Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to be resigned from his position. The protests have been going on for three days at San Juan, Puerto Rico, and it’s escalated on Monday. In front of the Fortaleza governor's residence, the police had tried to disengage the protesters with pepper spray. The protesters said that they feel betrayed and disrespected with the words inside the leaked private chat. They see those words as a form of trust violation from the governor and his comrades.

The protests sparked by the nearly 900 pages of Telegram private group chat between the governor and his inner circle. It is known that the private chat published by The Center for Investigative Journalism. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and his group made unbelievably inappropriate remarks about so many things, including the curse words to federal board which managing financial crisis in Puerto Rico. Rosselló even called the former New York City Council speaker with Puerto Rican background, Melissa Mark-Viverito, a vulgar term. Not only that, he wrote a rude comment about the homosexuality of Puerto Rican singer, Ricky Martin.

The governor’s chief fiscal officer and representative on the federal board, Christian Sobrino Vega, also vented his emotions about San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. Sobrino Vega wrote he wanted to shoot Yulín Cruz. A statement that approved by Rosselló that Sobrino Vega would give him a grand favor. Amid the protests, Sobrino Vega and Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin already step down for their position. However, Rosselló stands on his ground and determines not to resign. He said he wants to keep on running the agenda in all areas.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/15/us/puerto-rico-governor-protests-ricardo-rossello/index.html

Puertorico , Governor , Protest , people , Rosselló , chat , leader