In this Sept. 24, 2013 file photo, Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative in the U.S. Congress, speaks during a conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Thursady, July 31, 2019, Governor Ricardo Rosselló tweeted that he’s chosen Pierluisi as Puerto Rico’s secretary of state. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo, File)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor says he’s chosen former Congress representative Pedro Pierluisi as the U.S. territory’s secretary of state. That post would put Pierluisi in line to be governor when Rosselló steps down this week—but he’s unlikely to be approved by legislators.
Ricardo Rosselló made the announcement Wednesday via Twitter and said he would hold a special session on Thursday so legislators can vote on his nomination.
Luego de mucho análisis y tomando en cuenta los mejores intereses del nuestro Pueblo, he seleccionado al Lcdo Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia para llenar la vacante de Secretario de Estado. Para atender el asunto, estaré convocando una extraordinaria para mañana.
— Ricardo Rosselló (@ricardorossello) July 31, 2019
Rosselló has said he’ll resign on Friday following massive protests in which Puerto Ricans demanded he step down.
Top legislators have already said they will reject Pierluisi’s nomination because he works for a law firm that represents the federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances and say that’s a conflict of interest.
Pierluisi represented Puerto Rico in Congress from 2009-2017.
[…] UPDATE, JULY 31, 8:52amET: Governor Ricardo Rosselló tweeted that he has nominated Pedro Pierluisi for Secretary of State. […]