PEDRO PIERLUISI

Puerto Rico's governor has requested the U.S. government waive a federal law and allow more fuel shipments to the island over concerns of a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.

Puerto Rico’s governor requested that the U.S. government waive a federal law to allow for more fuel shipments to the island amid concerns over a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona

Puerto Rico’s governor requested that the U.S. government waive a federal law to allow for more fuel shipments to the island amid concerns over a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.

Half of Puerto Rico is without power more than five days after Hurricane Fiona struck the U.S. territory — including an entire town where not a single work crew has arrived.

A growing number of businesses including grocery stores and gas stations are temporarily closing across Puerto Rico as power outages caused by Hurricane Fiona drag on in the U.S. territory, sparking concern about the availability of fuel and basic goods.

See the scale of Puerto Rico’s flooding by Hurricane Fiona in maps, photos and videos.

CAYEY, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Fiona blasted the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday as a Category 3 storm after devastating Puerto Rico, where most people remained without electricity or running[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

Hurricane Fiona began barreling toward for the Turks and Caicos Islands Tuesday, after inflicting damage on the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. It is now a Category 3 storm.

Hurricane Fiona is blasting the Turks and Caicos Islands as a Category 3 storm after devastating Puerto Rico, where most people remain without electricity or running water.

Puerto Rico's power grid faced issues even before Hurricane Fiona made landfall and caused blackouts across the island.

Multiple counties in Puerto Rico remained under flash flood warning through the afternoon Monday as torrential rain pounded the island in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.

The governor of Puerto Rico says it will likely take days to fully restore the electricity on the island — but that's contingent upon how much damage the storm inflicted on the power grid.

Hurricane Fiona delivered "catastrophic" damage to Puerto Rico, and the storm made landfall in the Dominican Republic on Monday. No deaths have been reported in Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Fiona is dumping more rain on Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Fiona has struck Puerto Rico’s southwest coast as it unleashed landslides, knocked the power grid out and ripped up asphalt from roads and flung the pieces around.

The president of a super PAC in Puerto Rico who pled guilty to hiding the identity of donors who supported the U.S. territory’s governor during his 2020 election campaign has been sentenced to 14 months in prison

Persistent power outages and threats from Puerto Rico’s government have prompted a company that operates the island’s transmission and distribution system to announce that it would dedicate more resources and crews to improve service

Persistent power outages and threats from Puerto Rico’s government have prompted a company that operates the island’s transmission and distribution system to announce that it would dedicate more resources and crews to improve service.

Vazquez-Garced is accused of bribery in relation to her 2020 gubernatorial campaign.

Former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez has been arrested on bribery charges related to the financing of her 2020 campaign, the latest hit to an island with a long history of corruption that brought fresh political upheaval to the U.S. territory.

The federal control board that oversees the finances of Puerto Rico’s government has approved a $12.4 billion budget for the U.S. territory after legislators failed to approve one amid bickering

In a story published May 19, 2022, The Associated Press reported that a group of Democratic congress members on Thursday proposed a binding plebiscite to decide whether Puerto Rico should become a state or gain some sort of independence.

Puerto Rico's Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into destruction in an ecological reserve that protects one of the island’s most extensive mangrove forests.

The outage was one of the biggest in recent months for the island's crumbling electrical grid, which has seen its periodic blackouts grow worse the last few years.

Puerto Rico’s government is formally exiting bankruptcy after completing the largest public debt restructuring in U.S. history after announcing nearly seven years ago that it was unable to pay its more than $70 billion debt.

Puerto Rico’s governor says he is ending the requirement for mask use indoors for the second time since the pandemic began as cases and hospitalizations ease.

Puerto Rico’s governor announced Monday that he is ending a requirement for mask use indoors for the second time since the pandemic began as the number of cases and hospitalizations ease. Face masks will still be required in health facilities and nursing homes. In addition, starting March 10, domestic travelers will no longer have to present proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test or fill out a currently required form.

Protests in Puerto Rico are multiplying as government employees demand higher pay and improved pensions.

Unknown people have toppled a statue of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León ahead of a visit of Spain's King Felipe VI to the U.S. Caribbean territory of Puerto Rico.

Coronavirus infections across the Americas almost doubled between Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, from 3.4 million cases to 6.1 million, PAHO said. The Caribbean islands are experiencing their steepest increase in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, Etienne noted. “Although omicron infections appear to be milder, we continue to urge caution because the virus is spreading more actively than ever before,” Etienne said. Infections are also increasing in Asia, including in the Philippines, which has seen its worst coronavirus outbreak in recent weeks. In Costa Rica, public health concerns are colliding with constitutional guarantees for the Feb. 6 presidential and congressional elections.

In Costa Rica, election officials are encouraging those infected with the coronavirus to skip voting in upcoming national elections.

The U.S. commonwealth is still saddled with heavy debts relative to its economy.

A couple accused of refusing to fill out the required COVID-19 entry form at Puerto Rico’s airport and providing proof of a negative test have been detained after they locked themselves in their minivan for several hours, prompting police to send a negotiator

Puerto Rico is imposing new measures to fight a surge in COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed medical staff in the U.S. territory and led to temporary shortages of testing kits.

A California judge has partially blocked an order taking effect this week requires state prison employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

A U.S. House committee is demanding that the company in charge of the transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico release key data amid widespread outages in the U.S. territory that have outraged and frustrated many.

Not a single hurricane has hit Puerto Rico this year, but hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. territory feel like they’re living in the aftermath of a major storm: Students do homework by the light of dying cellphones.

Not a single hurricane has hit Puerto Rico this year, but hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. territory feel like they’re living in the aftermath of a major storm: Students do homework by the light of dying cellphones, people who depend on insulin or respiratory therapies struggle to find power sources and the elderly are fleeing sweltering homes amid record high temperatures. Power outages across the island have surged in recent weeks, with some lasting several days. Officials have blamed everything from seaweed to mechanical failures as the government calls the situation a “crass failure” that urgently needs to be fixed.

Puerto Rico’s governor has announced new restrictions to fight a rise in COVID-19 cases, including the closure of certain private businesses and banning alcohol sales after midnight.

Forecasters warned its heavy rains could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides. Officials in Puerto Rico worried about the island's ever-fragile power grid.

Tropical Storm Fred has weakened to a tropical depression while sweeping over the Dominican Republic and dumping heavy rains that forecasters warn could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides there and in neighboring Haiti.

Heavy rains are pelting the northern Caribbean as Tropical Storm Fred has formed just south of Puerto Rico following a quiet month of no named storms in the region.

U.S. health officials are expected to release new data about the spread of COVID-19 on Friday that led to their decision to recommend that vaccinated people wear masks in some situations, a reversal of previous guidance.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says Puerto Rico will receive nearly $4 billion in federal education pandemic relief funds to help boost the U.S. territory’s fight against COVID-19.

The pro-statehood movement has taken on new urgency – but it's not the only vision for Puerto Rico's future.

"Congress should be laying out the terms and conditions for Puerto Rico to become a state," Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said.

At the height of the blackout, nearly 800,000 customers were without power, according to Luma Energy. The company took over as the island's power authority just 10 days ago.

Hundreds of thousands of people were without power in Puerto Rico Thursday night after a large fire broke out at a main substation of Luma energy, a private company that took over the island's Electric Power Authority earlier this month, AP reports.The state of play: The cause of the fire in the capital San Juan remains unknown. Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said local and federal authorities are investigating the blaze and taking the necessary precautions to reestablish electricity. "Every g

A private company has taken over the transmission and distribution operations of Puerto Rico’s power authority, which has been struggling with blackouts and bankruptcy and a history of corruption and mismanagement.

A spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Puerto Rico has put health experts at odds with government officials.

The U.S. 7th Fleet that operates throughout the Indo-Pacific says more than 14,000 of its service members have received their full doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which it began administering on January 5.

Students arrive at the Ramon Marin Sola primary school for the first time in nearly a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic as some public schools reopen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Danica Coto)SAN JUAN – Parents across Puerto Rico knelt down on Wednesday to adjust their children's face masks and backpacks as public schools reopened for the first time in nearly a year despite the pandemic, with officials reporting scarce attendance amid COVID-19 concerns. Among them was the Ramón Marín Solá primary school in Guaynabo, where parents checked their children’s face masks before hugging them goodbye. AdFor now, only kindergarteners, special education students and children in first, second, third and 12th grades are allowed to return to school. Union leaders and some parents and teachers have called on Pierluisi’s administration to wait until August to reopen schools, noting the U.S. territory has not seen a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases.

(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)MEXICO CITY — Mexico reported a near-record 1,707 confirmed coronavirus deaths Wednesday, as the country runs out of vaccines. Ad___THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:Spain surpasses 60,000 confirmed virus deaths. British officials say Oxford study backs up their decision to delay second vaccine shot for up to 12 weeks. Ad___OKLAHOMA CITY -- About 11,500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine will be shipped to pharmacies across Oklahoma next week, state health officials said. ___MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Nicaragua’s government says it has approved Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.

FILE - In this May 28, 2020 file photo, the home of 85-year-old Carmen Lacen, sits inhabitable after the passing of Hurricane Maria partially covered by a torn, blue tarp, in Loiza, Puerto Rico. The U.S. territory is slated to receive more than $6 billion in federal funds to help prepare for future hurricanes and other disasters, officials said Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico is slated to receive more than $6 billion in federal funds to help prepare the U.S. territory for future hurricanes and other disasters, officials said Tuesday. In addition, Puerto Rico now has access to $3.2 billion to continue rebuilding from hurricanes Irma and Maria, said Pierluisi, who praised the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden for acting quickly. Congress had assigned $67 billion to help with reconstruction efforts after the hurricanes devastated the island in September 2017, but of the $43 billion obligated, Puerto Rico has only received $18 billion amid concerns over how the money would be spent.

Puerto Ricos new governor Pierluisi announced Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, that he will reopen beaches, marinas and pools, eliminate a Sunday lockdown and shorten a curfew that has been in place since the pandemic began to control the number of COVID-19 cases. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico’s new governor announced Tuesday that he will reopen beaches, marinas and pools, eliminate a Sunday lockdown and shorten a curfew that has been in place since the pandemic began to control the number of COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, the new curfew will run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and face masks remain mandatory. The announcement was cheered by many across Puerto Rico who have long sought to visit the U.S. territory’s beaches that had remained off limits to all except those doing exercise. Carlos Mellado, Puerto Rico's designated health secretary, said he expects 40,000 vaccine doses to arrive on the island every week.

(AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)SAN JUAN – Pedro Pierluisi vowed to achieve statehood for Puerto Rico and fight against poverty, corruption and COVID-19 after he was sworn in Saturday as the U.S. territory’s new governor. “I need everyone to battle our common enemies.”Saturday’s ceremony marked the end of a chaotic four-year period in which Puerto Rico had three governors, including Pierluisi himself briefly after former Gov. Congress created the board in 2016, a year after Puerto Rico declared its more than $70 billion public debt unpayable, an amount accumulated in part by previous administrations borrowing money to cover budget deficits. At the time she was the island’s justice secretary, but since there was no secretary of state at the time, Puerto Rico’s constitution dictated she assume the governorship. A new legislature also was sworn in on Saturday, marking the first time that the majority of Puerto Rico’s Senate is female.

Pedro Pierluisi, gubernatorial candidate with the New Progressive Party (PNP), arrives at Vivo Beach Club to celebrate a slim lead of the pro-statehood party in the Puerto Rican general elections, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)SAN JUAN – Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party won a majority of votes to become the U.S. territory’s next governor, according to official preliminary results released late Saturday. The results come four days after Puerto Rico held general elections, an unusual delay blamed on a record number of early and absentee votes that overwhelmed officials. It's also the first time that Puerto Rico's two main parties fail to reach 40% of votes. Other results released late Saturday included those of a tight race for the mayor of Puerto Rico's capital.

Voters across Puerto Rico are choosing new leaders they believe would help heal a U.S. territory wracked by corruption, hurricanes, earthquakes and the pandemic. “There’s still a lot at play.”Another hotly contested race is that for mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital. The elections commission has not certified any winners in those races or others. The president of Puerto Rico’s elections commission, Francisco Rosado, said he wasn’t satisfied with the job that the administrative board responsible for counting those votes is doing. “The elections commission was one of the few institutions that had credibility,” he said.

(AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)SAN JUAN – People across Puerto Rico awaited final results Wednesday of elections that saw long lines of voters and produced a tight gubernatorial race in the U.S. Caribbean territory. Meanwhile, Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico’s current representative in U.S. Congress and Pierluisi's running partner, easily won a second term. The race to become mayor of Puerto Rico's capital also was extremely tight, with only hundreds of votes separating two candidates, including one from a new party. Pierluisi briefly served as governor following last year’s protests and previously represented Puerto Rico in Congress for eight years. “Puerto Ricans have a short memory,” he said, adding that he remains hopeful a non-traditional party will eventually lead Puerto Rico.

FILE PHOTO: Wanda Vazquez, former Secretary of Justice, is sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico after Pedro Pierluisi's former oath was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 7, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez/File Photo(Reuters) - Puerto Ricos undependable power network would be modernized and decentralized under a $20.3 billion, 10-year plan announced on Thursday by government officials of the bankrupt U.S. commonwealth. The GridMod Plan will provide the safe, modern and resilient electricity network that our communities need and deserve, the governor said, adding that an improved power network will help boost the islands economy. Puerto Rico and its electric power authority known as PREPA filed for bankruptcy in 2017 just months before hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the power grid. Federal funding would cover about $13 billion of the plan, which also calls for private investment, according to the governors statement.

In a series of interviews with local media, Puerto Ricos former justice secretary denied reports that she had agreed to resign soon to allow Jenniffer Gonzalez, the Caribbean islands nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress, to take over. On Wednesday, Vazquez became Puerto Ricos third governor in less than a week, after Rossello, who took office in 2017, stepped down on Friday, and his hand-picked successor, Pedro Pierluisi, was removed by the islands supreme court. FILE PHOTO: Wanda Vazquez, former Secretary of Justice, is sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico by Supreme Court Justice Maite Oronoz after Pedro Pierluisi's former oath was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 7, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez/File PhotoThe political upheaval comes at a critical time in Puerto Ricos bankruptcy, as it seeks billions of dollars in federal funding for healthcare and recovery efforts from devastating 2017 hurricanes. As governor, Vazquez must deal with Puerto Ricos federally created fiscal oversight board, which filed the governments bankruptcy in 2017 in U.S. District Court to restructure about $120 billion of debt and pension obligations.

Ricardo Rossell resigned, publicly backed Jenniffer Gonzlez Puerto Rico's non-voting representative in Congress to be secretary of state, which would put her first in line to become governor if the office should be vacated again. Schatz, Gonzlez and the president of the House of Representatives met with Vzquez privately Thursday night at the new governor's request. They don't trust Puerto Rico's institutions or its officials." Puerto Rico's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Pierluisi had been placed in office unconstitutionally, resulting in Vzquez, the justice secretary, being sworn in as governor the same evening. Appointed justice secretary in January 2017, Vzquez previously worked as a district attorney for two decades at Puerto Rico's Justice Department, handling domestic and sexual abuse cases.

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Puerto Rico got its third governor in less than a week on Wednesday just hours after the bankrupt U.S. territorys supreme court ruled that Pedro Pierluisis assumption of the office was unconstitutional and ordered him to leave. The islands justice secretary, Wanda Vazquez, was sworn in as governor at the supreme court in San Juan. Wanda Vazquez, former Secretary of Justice, is sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico after Pedro Pierluisi's former oath was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 7, 2019. This is a time when we must all unite for Puerto Rico, leaving behind any partisan, ideological or personal agendas, he said in a statement. Pierluisi was sworn in as governor last Friday following confirmation of his secretary of state appointment by only the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.

FILE PHOTO: Pedro Pierluisi holds a news conference after swearing in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez/File PhotoSAN JUAN (Reuters) - The Puerto Rico Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that last weeks swearing in of Pedro Pierluisi as governor was unconstitutional and that he must leave office later in the day, paving the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez to succeed him. Puerto Rico needs certainty and stability, she said in a statement. Pierluisi, Rossellos hand-picked successor, was appointed secretary of state and next in line for governor on July 31. His swearing in as governor came after only the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, in a special session, confirmed him as secretary of state.

Puerto Rico's Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the swearing in of Pedro Pierluisi as the island's governor less than a week ago, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vzquez to take up the post after weeks of turmoil. Pedro R. Pierluisi Urrutia, named secretary of state in recess, is unconstitutional," the court said in a brief statement. Puerto Rico's Senate sued to challenge Pierluisi's legitimacy as governor, arguing that its approval was also necessary, and the Supreme Court held in favor of the Senate. Puerto Rico's constitution says a secretary of state has to be approved by both chambers. It was not clear exactly when Vzquez, a 59-year-old former prosecutor, would be sworn in as Puerto Rico's second female governor.

FILE PHOTO: Pedro Pierluisi holds a news conference after swearing in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. Schatz acknowledged that the supreme court would ultimately rule on the matter. With the utmost deference to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, I will wait for its decision, trusting that what is best for Puerto Rico will prevail, Pierluisi said in a statement. After his nomination was confirmed by the Puerto Rico House, Pierluisi was sworn in as governor on Friday, even though the Senate had not ratified the appointment. Schatz initially filed his lawsuit on Sunday in a San Juan court, then successfully petitioned the supreme court to hear it directly.

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Puerto Ricos supreme court agreed on Monday to hear a lawsuit filed by the bankrupt U.S. territorys Senate president seeking to remove newly installed Governor Pedro Pierluisi from office on constitutional grounds. FILE PHOTO: Pedro Pierluisi holds a news conference after swearing in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. Pierluisi, 60, was hand-picked by his predecessor, Governor Ricardo Rossello, as secretary of state, making him first in line for governor when Rossello resigned on Friday. After his nomination was confirmed by the Puerto Rico House, Pierluisi was sworn in as governor on Friday, even though the Senate had yet to ratify the appointment. That has still not happened yet because the Senate of Puerto Rico has not finalized its constitutional responsibility for advice and consent for such an appointment, it added.

FILE PHOTO: Pedro Pierluisi holds a news conference after swearing in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. Pierluisi, 60, was hand-picked by his predecessor, Governor Ricardo Rossello, as secretary of state, making him first in line for governor when Rossello resigned on Friday. After his nomination was confirmed by the Puerto Rico House, Pierluisi was sworn in as governor on Friday, even though the Senate had yet to ratify the appointment. That has still not happened yet because the Senate of Puerto Rico has not finalized its constitutional responsibility for advice and consent for such an appointment, it added. He said he was properly sworn in as governor under Puerto Ricos constitution and a 2005 law that Schatzs lawsuit claims is unconstitutional.

(Reuters) - The legitimacy of Puerto Ricos newly-installed governor has been challenged in court, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, adding further drama to who will lead the U.S. territory after weeks of protests. FILE PHOTO: Pedro Pierluisi holds a news conference after swearing in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez/File PhotoPedro Pierluisi, the handpicked successor to disgraced former governor Ricardo Rossello, was sworn in on Friday. At his first news conference as governor last week, Pierluisi acknowledged that Puerto Ricos Senate was still to meet to vote on whether to confirm his position. If he is not ratified then the second in line, the secretary of justice of Puerto Rico, will take over the governorship, he said.

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - The handpicked successor to disgraced Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossell was sworn in on Friday after Rossello stepped down, but lawyer Pedro Pierluisi said his term as governor might be short-lived because the U.S. territorys Senate still must approve his appointment. At his first news conference as governor, Pierluisi said Puerto Ricos Senate would meet on Wednesday to vote on whether to confirm his position as governor. If I am not ratified then the second in line, the secretary of justice of Puerto Rico, will take over the governorship, Pierluisi told reporters. The U.S. territorys Senate head blasted the transition process as unethical and illegal.Although Puerto Ricos House of Representatives earlier on Friday voted to approve Pierluisi as secretary of state, an appointment which would make him next in line as governor, the islands Senate has yet to vote. In fact, he mocked them using new accomplices, Schatz said in a tweet after Rossell announced that Pierluisi would be sworn in.

(Reuters) - Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossell on Friday said attorney Pedro Pierluisi would be sworn in as the islands next governor. In a statement, Rosell said based on the islands law, Pierluisi would assume the post after Puerto Ricos House of Representatives on Friday approved his nomination as secretary of state, putting him next in line to be governor. Rossell had said he would step down at 5:00 p.m. after mass protests demanding his resignation over offensive chat messages and a corruption scandal.

House members are pictured during a public hearing of the Commission of Government of the House of Representatives, called upon by the President of the House, Johnny Mendez, to attend the nomination of Pedro Pierluisi as Secretary of State, hours before Ricardo Rossello steps down as Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. BaezSAN JUAN (Reuters) - Puerto Ricos House of Representatives on Friday approved the nomination of attorney Pedro Pierluisi as the islands next secretary of state, potentially positioning him to take over as governor from disgraced leader Ricardo Rossell. Rossell last week nominated Pierluisi as secretary of state, an appointment that would put him next in line to succeed Rossell if approved by the legislature. Some legislative leaders and constitutional lawyers have said that Pierluisis approval by the House would be sufficient for him to become Puerto Ricos governor once Rossell steps down. Puerto Rico has $42.5 billion in federal disaster funding allocated to it, and its bankruptcy is the biggest ever in the U.S. municipal bond market.

House members are pictured during a public hearing of the Commission of Government of the House of Representatives, called upon by the President of the House, Johnny Mendez, to attend the nomination of Pedro Pierluisi as Secretary of State, hours before Ricardo Rossello steps down as Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. BaezSAN JUAN (Reuters) - Puerto Ricos House of Representatives on Friday approved the nomination of attorney Pedro Pierluisi as the islands next secretary of state, potentially positioning him to take over as governor from disgraced leader Ricardo Rossell. Rossell nominated Pierluisi as secretary of state, an appointment that would put Pierluisi next in line to succeed Rossello. Some legislative leaders and constitutional lawyers have said that Pierluisis approval by the House would be sufficient for him to become Puerto Ricos governor once Rossell steps down. Puerto Rico has $42.5 billion in federal disaster funding allocated to it, and its bankruptcy is the biggest ever in the U.S. municipal bond market.

House members are pictured during a public hearing of the Commission of Government of the House of Representatives, called upon by the President of the House, Johnny Mendez, to attend the nomination of Pedro Pierluisi as Secretary of State, hours before Ricardo Rossello steps down as Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez(Reuters) - Puerto Ricos House of Representatives on Friday approved the nomination of Pedro Pierluisi as the U.S. territorys next secretary of state, potentially putting him in line to succeed outgoing Governor Ricardo Rossell. Rossell is due to step down at 5 p.m. ET after mass protests in July demanded his resignation over offensive text messages and corruption charges against former administration officials.

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Puerto Ricos next governor remained up in the air on Thursday, just 24 hours before Governor Ricardo Rossell was due to resign, as the U.S. territorys Senate pushed a vote on his successor to Monday. But Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said Pierluisis role as an attorney advising the widely-disliked financial oversight board directing Puerto Ricos bankruptcy presented conflicts of interests and made him unacceptable. The speaker of Puerto Ricos House of Representatives, Carlos Mndez, told reporters that Pierluisi could still become governor in the event his chamber fails to vote on or confirms the nomination during a Friday session. Street protesters have also accused Pierluisi of serving the interests of the federally-created oversight board, not the Puerto Rican public. In 2017, the oversight board filed a form a bankruptcy to restructure about $120 billion of the governments debt and pension obligations.

Police officers stand guard by a barricade on a street that leads to La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, and where protests calling for the resignation of Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello occurred, in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico July 26, 2019. Protesters who forced Rossell from office have vowed to oppose Vzquez, saying she is too close to the disgraced governor. Also vying for the position is Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz of the PNP, these people said. EYES ON 2020Foremost in the minds of party leaders is whether Rossells successor can help them retain the governorship when it comes up for grabs in November 2020. Pierluisi, a former Puerto Rico secretary of justice, is favored by some Puerto Rico advocates in Washington for his familiarity with federal politics, according to one of the sources.

During Rossells term as governor, Puerto Rico endured back-to-back 2017 hurricanes that killed about 3,000 people just months after the U.S. territory filed for bankruptcy to restructure $120 billion of debt and pension obligations. Related Coverage Puerto Rico governor's likely successor may not soothe protester ireVzquez rejected charges of improper past business ties leveled in Puerto Rican media. Pierluisi, a member of Rossells party, ran against him in the gubernatorial election in 2016, losing in a primary. Puerto Rican celebrities, including musicians Residente and Bad Bunny, attend a rally to celebrate the resignation of Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello in San Juan, Puerto Rico July 25, 2019. The new governor, Wanda Vzquez, has all my support, said Gonzlez, a member of Rossells New Progressive Party in Puerto Rico and affiliated with the Republican Party on the U.S. mainland.