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Puerto Ricans Worry about Future If Embattled Governor Stays

Associated Press

   SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - The political crisis in Puerto Rico has
   escalated to a point where many wonder how Gov. Ricardo Rossello will
   be able to govern the U.S. territory in the coming days and possibly
   weeks amid the massive protests to oust him.

   Rossello dug his heels in late Monday after what seems to have been the
   biggest protest the island has seen in nearly two decades, telling Fox
   News that he has already apologized and made amends following the leak
   of an offensive, obscenity-laden online chat between him and his
   advisers that triggered the crisis.

   But Puerto Ricans remained unsatisfied and vowed to keep protesting
   until he steps down, no matter how long it takes.

   "We can endure anything," said Francisco Javier Diaz, a 30-year-old
   chemical engineer from the central mountain town of Corozal. "We have
   the power and the resilience. And the truth is, we're fed up."

   Tuesday marked the 11th consecutive day of protests as government
   officials around Rossello keep resigning. Even his own father, former
   governor Pedro Rossello, stepped down from positions within their
   pro-statehood New Progressive Party and disaffiliated himself from it
   in a severe blow to party members.

   Meanwhile, Ricardo Rossello said he will not resign, noting that he
   already announced he would not seek re-election in 2020 and that he has
   stepped down as president of his party.

   "That way, I can focus on the job at hand," he said, referring in part
   to fighting corruption and overseeing recovery efforts following
   Hurricane Maria. The Category 4 storm that hit Sept. 20, 2017 caused
   more than $100 billion in damage, threw Puerto Rico into a year-long
   blackout and left thousands dead, most of them succumbing during the
   sweltering aftermath.

   The island has also seen a recent string of arrests of officials on
   federal corruption charges, including former education secretary Julia
   Keleher.

   Michelle De La Cruz, a spokeswoman for Rossello, said he was not
   available for further comment.

   Asked who was advising Rossello on staying in office, Rossello's
   secretary of public affairs, Anthony Maceira, said the governor was
   speaking with his family and "that carries a great weight." Rossello's
   father, Pedro, was governor from 1993 to 2001.

   Some Puerto Ricans have accepted that Rossello will not resign and say
   they instead will put pressure on legislators to start an impeachment
   process.

   "They have that power in their hands," said Normarie Matos, a
   43-year-old financial manager from San Juan. "People are no longer
   afraid."

   Monday's massive protest came 10 days after the leak of 889 pages of
   online chats in which Rossello and some of his close aides insulted
   women and mocked constituents, including victims of Hurricane Maria.

   The leak has intensified long-smoldering anger on the island over
   ongoing corruption and mismanagement by the island's two main political
   parties that many blame for a 13-year recession and a severe debt
   crisis that has led to austerity measures including pension cuts.

   "We don't want future generations to suffer what we have suffered,"
   said Tania Garcia, a 25-year-old engineer from the eastern town of
   Juncos who vowed to keep protesting. "This is only going to get
   stronger day by day."
   Monday's demonstration represented the biggest protest movement on the
   island since Puerto Ricans rallied to put an end to U.S. Navy training
   on the island of Vieques more than 15 years ago, and more protests are
   expected this week.