Ricardo Rosselló, the first Puerto Rican governor ever elected to resign from the job, announced in a press release Friday that attorney and politician Pedro Pierluisi would be sworn in as his successor in accordance to Puerto Rican law. Rosselló announced his resignation July 24 after weeks of protests and, at that time, said Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez would be appointed as his successor.

The announcement of Vázquez entering office did not calm the anger of the Puerto Rican people, as the hashtag #WandaRenuncia or "Wanda, resign" started trending on Twitter immediately after Rosselló's address. Many on the island accuse her of dragging her feet in finding out what happened to missing hurricane relief money, according to USA Today.

Unlike that harsh reaction, thousands were seen cheering outside of the governor's mansion Friday as Rosselló's resignation became official.

Pierluisi, being a much more popular option with the public, was not a surefire selection for the job, despite Rosselló's steadfast announcement, as some lawmakers still insisted that he get the approval of both the House and Senate before being allowed to take over as secretary of state and, eventually, governor.

"My history of public service to our people should be sufficient proof of where my loyalties are and how I will work for our people," Pierluisi, who is both Puerto Rico's former nonvoting member of Congress and justice secretary, said during the legislative hearing, according to NBC News.

During his House deposition, Pierluisi often talked about his legal relationship with the federal oversight board, a subsection of the government that monitors the island's finances, according to NBC News. His relationship with the board, colloquially known as "la Junta," and the fact that his brother-in-law José Carrión III is the president of said board was seen as a potential conflict of interest to members of the House. However, Pierluisi is confident that his experience and knowledge of the law will make him the perfect person to lead the territory at this time.

"The fact that I know the Promesa law top to bottom, that I have earned the respect of 'la Junta’ and Congress, makes me someone who can effectively defend the interests of the people of Puerto Rico before the Trump administration, Congress and ‘la Junta,’” Pierluisi said. "Who better than me to facilitate the process that will force the board to leave? That is what we all want."

Puerto Rico protest

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