Puerto Rico’s Governor Expected to Resign Later Today

After nearly two weeks of protests urging Puerto Rico’s governor to step down, Ricardo Rosselló is expected to announce his resignation later today. Protests erupted after private messages between Rosselló and members of his administration containing disparaging, misogynistic and homophobic language from the governor himself were made public by Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism — known as as ‘Chatgate.’

Though Rosselló announced on Monday that he would not run for re-election in 2020, he was still refusing to resign. Protesters, however, were not satisfied and demonstrations continued throughout Tuesday. Then late that evening sources began reporting that his resignation was imminent.

Never have I seen such stamina…it’s almost 1am here, in week 2 of protests, and the beat has just been going harder and harder.#RickyRenuncia @vicenews pic.twitter.com/relcrtvzHo

— aniucar (@AniUcar) July 24, 2019

Citing the safety of his family as a concern, Rosselló’s Chief of Staff, Ricardo Llerandi Cruz resigned on Tuesday, effective July 31. “The last few days have been extremely difficult for everyone. At this historical juncture, it is up to me to take the welfare of my family into consideration. The threats we’ve received can be tolerated as an individual, but I will never allow them to affect my home,” Cruz wrote in his resignation letter.

Though the suggestion has already been met with some opposition, Rosselló is expected to be replaced by Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Justice Wanda Vazquez.

https://twitter.com/letangieexplore/status/1153884726064795648

As tensions escalate, many residents of Puerto Rico seem to be in favor of a complete overhaul of the island’s government which has been plagued with corruption for many years, much of which has come to the forefront in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria.