Puerto Rico To Hold Referendum On Statehood, Independence

On Wednesday, Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño approved a two–part referendum that will get the ball rolling on whether the island wants to change its status.

Both parts of the referendum are set to be held November 6, with one part asking puertorriqueños whether they want to change status in the 1st place, or remain a commonwealth. And the second part asking them to choose whether to become: a state, independent or choose “sovereign free association.”

But, whatever Puerto Ricans decide next year, ultimate say still lies with U.S. Congress, and President Barack Obama. This isn’t the first time Puerto Rico has taken up this issue, as the AP reported:  the island took up the issues in 1967, 1993, and 1998.

The timing of this referendum is important for other reasons, as Julio Varela  points out:

…the 2012 plebiscite will occur during the 60th year anniversary of the Puerto Rican Constitution, the document that declared the island a Commonwealth of the United States, the country that invaded it in 1898.

In any case, it would appear that 2012 is going to be an all-around important year for Latino politics.

[Image By VibraCobra23]

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