Raucous celebrations erupt after Puerto Rico governor steps down. But uncertainty lies ahead
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Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello listens during a press conference on Capitol Hill January 10, 2018 in Washington, DC.
The Puerto Rico Statehood Commission held a news conference "to demand to be seated in the United States House of Representatives and Senate as the legitimate lawmakers of America's 51st state."
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—
Weeks of fury and protests gave way to celebrations and fireworks as Puerto Rico’s embattled governor announced he’ll step down.
But the widespread jubilation was quickly tempered by a sobering reality: No one’s sure what’s next for the US territory.
And as Gov. Ricardo Rosselló prepares to announce his successor, some say the woman next in line – Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez – would be just as problematic.
“We don’t want her, either,” said Manuel Capella, a doctor from Arecibo. “We’d keep protesting.”
Protesters revel after bringing down their governor
Shortly after Rosselló announced his resignation, much of Puerto Rico turned into a massive block party. Festive music blared through the streets as fireworks lit up the sky.
The targets included fellow politicians, members of the media and even victims of Hurricane Maria – which killed thousands of Puerto Ricans in 2017.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters celebrate in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, after Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced that he will resign.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Puerto Ricans wave flags in celebration of Rosselló's resignation.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Demonstrators react in front of the governor's mansion, known as La Fortaleza.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/AP
People in the crowd hold flowers and flags outside the governor's mansion.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A demonstrator rejoices after Rosselló announced his resignation.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Jubilant demonstrators are seen in the streets of Old San Juan.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A woman celebrates near La Fortaleza.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A Puerto Rican man cheers after the resignation of Rosselló.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A demonstrator listens to Rosselló's resignation message on a cell phone.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Protesters rally in San Juan on Wednesday, July 24.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Demonstrators react Tuesday, July 23, upon hearing reports that Rosselló would step down.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Police clash with protesters during demonstrations against Rosselló on Monday, July 22. The protests continued into Tuesday morning.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A protester throws a tear gas canister toward police in San Juan.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
A protester reacts to tear gas outside the governor's mansion.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
Protesters run away from tear gas near the governor's mansion.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A line of police moves toward demonstrators.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
A woman confronts police in riot gear.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Protesters disperse in a cloud of tear gas.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
People hold up their phones during the rally outside the governor's mansion.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Protesters demonstrate near a police barricade set up along a street leading to the governor's mansion.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
This aerial view, taken from a drone, shows protesters on the Expreso Las Americas highway on Monday.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
People join the rally against Rosselló on Monday.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Eric Rojas/AFP/Getty Images
A masked man protests in San Juan.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Protesters block the way to Rosselló's residence on Monday.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin, waving a rainbow flag, joins the protests on Monday. Members of the group chat that Rosselló took part in made vulgar references to the star's sexuality.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Puerto Ricans in San Juan demand Rosselló's resignation on Monday.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Eric Rojas/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters attach a banner to a highway sign.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Mohammed Elshamy/CNN
Singer Daddy Yankee, in the flag shirt, attends the rally on Monday.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
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A woman is assisted in the streets after demonstrators clashed with police on Wednesday, July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Gabriella N. Baez/Reuters
Police fire tear gas at demonstrators on July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Police officers search the bag of a detained demonstrator on July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Rosselló defended the actions of police and accused protesters of unleashing tear gas and setting fires during demonstrations.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
Thousands of demonstrators protest in front of the governor's mansion on July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Eric Rojas/AFP/Getty Images
A protester reacts after being sprayed by tear gas in San Juan.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/AP
Rapper Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, known by his stage name Bad Bunny, holds a Puerto Rican flag before a march on July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Eric Rojas/AFP/Getty Images
Ricky Martin holds a microphone during the march on July 17. At right is rapper Rene Perez, aka Residente.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Eric Rojas/AFP/Getty Images
People gather to demand Rosselló's resignation on July 17.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Police block the street leading to the governor's mansion on Tuesday, July 16.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Carlos Giusti/AP
Rosselló attends a news conference in San Juan on July 16.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Carlos Giusti/AP
Protesters gather near the executive mansion on Monday, July 15.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Gabriella N. Baez/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Demonstrators cover their mouths with duct tape that says "resignation" in Spanish.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Gabriella N. Baez/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Protesters take to the streets of San Juan on July 15.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Carlos Giusti/AP
A police officer blocks protesters from reaching the governor's residence on Sunday, July 14.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Jose Jimenez/Getty Images
Police block the street leading to the governor's mansion on July 14.
Photos: In pictures: Puerto Ricans celebrate governor's resignation
Carlos Giusti/AP
Demonstrators hold signs that say "Corruption is violence" and "Ricky resign" while protesting near the executive mansion on Thursday, July 11.
After days of defiance, Rosselló caved to protesters’ demands just as lawmakers were getting ready to start impeachment proceedings.
In a video posted Wednesday on Facebook, the governor said he will resign at 5 p.m. ET on August 2.
“During the past few days, many of you have been practicing your right of freedom of expression,” Rosselló said in his video. “The claims have been overwhelming, and I have received them with the highest degree of humility.”
He also used the video to tout accomplishments.
“Today we have the first positive economic growth in over a decade with 4.1% of growth, and the lowest unemployment in all our history, relieving thousands of fathers and mothers from the suffering of poverty,” Rosselló said.
“I wish peace and progress for our people. Transformation and progress are not the work of just one person; it’s the product of the work of the people.”
Who will be the next governor?
Puerto Rico’s secretary of state would normally be next in the line of succession. But that position is vacant after former Secretary of State Luis G. Rivera Marín – who was one of the participants in the leaked chat – resigned during this month’s protests.
Next up would be Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez. But she’s a longtime ally of Rosselló’s, and some Puerto Ricans say they don’t trust her.
“That would be terrible. That’s like taking out a cockroach and replacing (it) with another,” said Nora Morales, a retired business owner in Old San Juan.
Capella criticized the justice secretary’s handling of the chat message scandal. The Justice Department did not issue summonses for those involved in the chats until several days after the scandal was publicized, and also gave the participants a few days to turn over their cell phones for inspection.
“Why didn’t she ask for their phones earlier to investigate?” Capella said.
But Vázquez said she’s ready to take the helm.
“Once the resignation is official, if necessary, I will assume the historic mandate” as dictated in the Puerto Rican constitution, Vázquez said.
It’s possible the governor might try to appoint a new secretary of state in the coming week, before he formally steps down. That person would have to be approved by the legislature before he or she takes over as governor.
But Rosselló has hinted that Vázquez will likely be his successor.
“At this time, according to legal order, that person would be the current secretary of the Department of Justice, the attorney Wanda Vázquez,” Rosselló said in his video Wednesday.
“Before, people would sit and watch TV and complain or do nothing,” said García Coll, a member of a community organizing group made up mostly of artists and writers. “People are not sitting in front of their TVs anymore. That’s the difference. I call it a peaceful revolution.”
Cynthia García Coll, a psychologist who teaches at the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, said the issues on the island go beyond the top leadership.
“Rosselló is a symptom of a much deeper problem,” she said.
Many Puerto Ricans have lost confidence in Rosselló’s New Progressive Party, which favors US statehood, and the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the current commonwealth status.
But even though Rosselló is on his way out, his party still controls both sides of the legislature.
Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz, who’s also the new interim president of the New Progressive Party, said Rosselló’s resignation “puts an end to a very sad chapter in the history of Puerto Rico.”
“It was a difficult decision for him and his family, but it was the right one,” Rivera said.
“To the people of Puerto Rico, we assure you that our efforts to improve the quality of life here … will remain strong, and nothing will divert us from said goal.”
CNN’s Leyla Santiago, Ray Sanchez, Nicole Chavez, Rafy Rivera and Theresa Waldrop contributed to this report.
