The Fourth Plebiscite

The Fourth Plebiscite / Fernando Damaso
Fernando Damaso, Translator: Unstated

A few months ago, in a post about Puerto Rico, I wrote that in November,
in a plebiscite to be held, we would know what Puerto Ricans now think
about their political status. The results of the constitutional inquiry
show that most citizens were in favor of changing the current status of
the Commonwealth and becoming the 51st state of the Union.

According to data released by the Election Commission, the 53.99% voted
to end the current status and 46.01% voted to keep it. In addition,
61.15% voted for statehood in the United States, 33.31% for continuing
as the Commonwealth and 5.53% for independence.

For the first time in history annexation to the U.S. received the
highest number of votes. In previous consultations, 1967, 1993 and 1998
the Commonwealth option had won. It seems that now, more than ever, the
independence option is not of interest to Puerto Ricans. Indeed, in the
recent elections, the independence won only 2.6% of the votes.

It now rests with the Congress of the United States, in line with the
provisions of Article IV of the Constitution, to determine their
acceptance as the 51st state, as Congress decides which areas are
incorporated into the Union.

I think that the Cuban authorities as well as those other ALBA
countries, looking at this demonstration of the democratic will of the
majority of Puerto Ricans will stop interfering in the internal affairs
of the island and withdraw their absurd demands for its independence,
raised in international bodies, and will cease to call it a colony.

It seems that Puerto Ricans, intelligently, without losing their Latin
American identify, prefer to be full U.S. citizens. In short, since
1917, they have enjoyed this citizenship and have not suffered coups,
fratricidal conflicts, revolutions and dictatorships, common in other
countries in Latin America.

November 10 2012

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