Meet Wanda Vázquez: 5 Facts about Puerto Rico’s New Governor
Since Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation as governor of Puerto Rico, the focus has been on his successor, 59-year-old Wanda Vázquez since many are now protesting against the former prosecutor
Photo: Wikimedia/United State Senate - the Office of Chris Murphy
Since Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation as governor of Puerto Rico, the focus has been on his successor, 59-year-old Wanda Vázquez since many are now protesting against the former prosecutor.
Vázquez, who’s set to take over Rosselló‘s position, has limited experience leading government agencies so many believe that leading the administration is a task she may not be equipped or experienced enough to handle. Vázquez is set to become Governor of Puerto Rico on August 2.
Muchas gracias Gobernador, mi compromiso con la justicia y el pueblo de PR es inquebrantable. https://t.co/9DtC3Gf2gv
— Lcda. Wanda Vázquez Garced (@wandavazquezg) July 9, 2019
Puerto Rico’s constitution dictates the secretary of state is first in line to take over if the governor resigns. However, Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marín, one of the 12 men who took part in the controversial chat that leaked, resigned July 13 amid the controversy.
In response to the controversy that led to Rosselio’s resignation, Vázquez released a statement saying: “I recognize that the frustrations and pressures of the day-to-day can be expressed in an incorrect way within the privacy of a friendship. But I have to express the deep regret this causes me as a woman, as a mother, as a professional and as a citizen of this beautiful island.”
Soon after the announcement that Vázquez would take over, calls for her resignation began trending on Twitter with the hashtag #WandaRenuncia.
Here are five things you should know about the controversial figure:
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She was the first secretary of justice to face criminal charges.
In November 2018, Vázquez faced allegations that she had improperly intervened on behalf of her daughter and son-in-law in a theft case from their home. She was briefly suspended from her post during the investigation but was later cleared of any ethical violations due to insufficient evidence against her, Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Día reported.
When Rosselló immediately reinstated her, he drew criticism because it came before the period of an appeal had passed, the New York Times reported.
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She was criticized for delaying investigations into members of the New Progressive Party.
Her office led a probe into the office of Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz following allegations of corruption. The investigation resulted in the federal indictment of a senate official for submitting fake invoices benefitting Rivera’s political allies. This fueled a public battle between them where he called for her resignation, accusing her of committing crimes and mishandling cases. However, there are allegations that she didn’t properly investigate the case.
“There are documents coming out now showing she did not investigate,” school teacher Miriam Melendez told USA Today. “She was not ethical.”
Rivera has called Vázquez “the secretary of nothing,” according to the New York Times.
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She has been criticized for not prioritizing the needs of women in Puerto Rico.
She was meant to remain head of the department for 10 years but Rosselló appointed her as Justice Secretary in 2017.
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She was accused of delaying an investigation into questionable licensing of medical marijuana clinics.
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