Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Puerto Rico's fourth party certified
(Esta entrada está disponible también en español.)
The environmentalist-oriented Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico (PPR) was certified today as the Island's fourth political party, after having collected the nearly hundred thousand petitions required by law for registration.
Historically, Puerto Rican politics have revolved around the status issue - the question of the island's relationship with the United States. Since 1968, two major parties have alternated in power: the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which has sought retention of the existing U.S. Commonwealth status, and the New Progresive Party (PNP), which wants to turn the island into America's 51st state. A small minority - around three to five percent of voters - backs the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), which advocates Puerto Rico's independence from the U.S.
Besides a handful of short-lived local parties, Puerto Rico has not had four islandwide parties since 1983, when a PNP breakaway, the Puerto Rican Renewal Party (PRP) secured its registration. That party, which (like the now registered PPR) did not take sides on the status debate, fared badly in the 1984 general election and disappeared shortly thereafter.
Elections in Puerto Rico has more information on the island's electoral processes, and election results since 1920.
The environmentalist-oriented Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico (PPR) was certified today as the Island's fourth political party, after having collected the nearly hundred thousand petitions required by law for registration.Historically, Puerto Rican politics have revolved around the status issue - the question of the island's relationship with the United States. Since 1968, two major parties have alternated in power: the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which has sought retention of the existing U.S. Commonwealth status, and the New Progresive Party (PNP), which wants to turn the island into America's 51st state. A small minority - around three to five percent of voters - backs the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), which advocates Puerto Rico's independence from the U.S.
Besides a handful of short-lived local parties, Puerto Rico has not had four islandwide parties since 1983, when a PNP breakaway, the Puerto Rican Renewal Party (PRP) secured its registration. That party, which (like the now registered PPR) did not take sides on the status debate, fared badly in the 1984 general election and disappeared shortly thereafter.
Elections in Puerto Rico has more information on the island's electoral processes, and election results since 1920.
