Puerto Rico governor won’t seek reelection

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced Sunday he will not seek reelection in 2020 and is stepping down as head of the New Progressive Party. 

He will remain in office for the remainder of his term. 

Rosselló’s decision follows fervent calls for him to resign amid a corruption scandal involving former members of his administration and released messages between him and his top lieutenants containing homophobic and misogynistic slurs.

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The announcement was made during a Sunday Facebook live address.

“A huge portion of the population is unhappy and I recognize it,” Rosselló said, according to a CNN report. “I’ve heard you, I love the island and people. … Today I have the responsibility to direct my strengths to try to find alternatives so that with God we may be able to move forward.”

Ahead of the announcement, thousands of protestors demonstrated in the streets of San Juan for days calling on the governor to resign. Democrats, including 2020 hopefuls, had also issued a call for the governor to resign from office, which Rosselló had resisted.

The controversy began after the FBI arrested two former administration members over claims that they ushered more than $15 million in government contracts to favored businesses. 

The Puerto Rican Center for Investigative Journalism also released the texts that included misogynistic and homophobic slurs directed at journalists and political rivals.