Puerto Ricans vote to be 51st US state
Print Edition
PUERTO Ricans have voted overwhelmingly to become a US state in a non-binding referendum — but the result was marred by an extremely low turnout after opposition parties called for a boycott of the Sunday poll.
With virtually all results in, 97.2 percent backed statehood, 1.5 percent supported independence and 1.3 percent opted for no change, but just 23 percent of the 2.2 million-strong electorate cast a ballot.
Despite the low turnout, Governor Ricardo Rossello vowed to push for the territory to become the 51st US state after casting his vote for statehood.
“We will go before international forums to defend the argument of the importance of Puerto Rico being the first Hispanic state in the United States,” Rossello said.
An unincorporated US territory under American control since 1898, Puerto Rico lacks sovereign powers — an urgent problem as it grapples with public debt of US$73 billion and its economy stumbles.
Rossello, who heads the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, said his government would fight “in Washington and throughout the world” for the Caribbean island territory to be accepted as the 51st US state, and for Puerto Ricans to gain “all the same opportunities” as other American citizens.
The US Congress would need to approve any upgrade to statehood.
The Rossello government insists statehood is the answer to the financial crisis hanging over the island of 3.4 million, where some 45 percent of the population live in poverty.
Sunday’s referendum was the fifth on the territory’s status.
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