Puerto Rico Governor Says She Will Not Resign

El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) ^ | October 9, 2003 | Dennise Y. Pérez

[Ebenezer]

(English-language translation)

Governor Sila Calderón strongly denied speculation since last week that she was going to resign as a result of the controversy surrounding the nomination of [Secretary of State] Ferdinand Mercado as Chief Justice of the [Commonwealth] Supreme Court.

"No, resoundingly not. Definitely not," the Governor stated yesterday.

She was asked if she will remain until the end of her four-year term. "That is so. Why not?" she answered.

As a result of that nomination and two tense weeks' worth of controversy, the Governor withdrew Mercado's nomination and named a substitute. In his place, she kept Justice Francisco Rebollo as Acting Chief Justice and stated that there will be no nomination at this moment. In addition, she described the process as one in which there was too much political pressure on account of next month's primaries.

Then came speculation afterwards that she did not nominate another candidate in hopes of getting the vote she needed and [then] renominate Mercado once the primaries were over. The Governor did not want to discuss the matter, but neither did she rule that out.

"I want to reiterate what I said last week. I never saw the Supreme Court nomination as a political act, but as a government act. So, for me, these are two separate things....I have already expressed myself. At this moment, I have nothing further to say," she indicated.

She "Might" Help Aníbal

As a result of this same controversy, it became evident that there was a deterioration in the relationship between the Governor and [governing] Popular Democratic Party (PPD) Chairman Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, who led the efforts within the party against Mercado. [Acevedo is running for Governor next year in the PPD ticket.]

When the Governor was asked if Acevedo Vilá could expect her public support in the coming general elections, she replied: "It might be, it might be."

"At this moment, I am focused, centered on, and dedicated to my work as Governor. I have really not contemplated the political processes that are taking place at this moment," the Governor added.

She was asked to describe her relationship with Acevedo Vilá. "It's as always," she responded. How is that? she was insistently asked. "As always," Calderón reiterated. "And how has it been?" a reporter asked again. "As always, normal," she said. To a specific question, she replied that "no, we haven't spoken."

"I am focused on my government work. I am not going to make comments on politics, nor on political candidates, nor on anything that has to do with party politics. I am not going to talk anything about politics. What I can tell you is that I am [a] Popular [Democrat] and that I am not going to comment on politics," the Chief Executive expressed.

In another matter, Calderón wished success to actor and California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[The Old Hoosier]

This article sux. What's the controversy over Mercado?

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[Ebenezer]

I believe your opinion better reflects Governor Calderón's performance in office rather than the quality of the article. If you find it poorly written, I simply translated it as faithfully to the original Spanish-language version as possible.

With respect to your question, the arguments had been that the Governor nominated Mercado to the Supreme Court only because he is a political crony of hers and that he did not have the professional qualifications. Such criticism came from within both Calderón's party and the opposition. You can see why she was forced to withdraw his name.

[The Old Hoosier]

All I meant is that the article didn't explain the most important thing, the issue with this nomination.

[chilepepper]

This woman is incompetent and corrupt to boot. She is the "brilliant" mind that helped shut down the US Navy in Vieques and was then surprised when the US Navy opted to move most of its operations out of the immense Roosevelt Roads Navy base (taking with them hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars pumped into the PR economy!)

Una democrata tipica: tonta e izquierda...

[Ebenezer]

I suppose that the reporter who wrote the article took it for granted that her readers already knew what were the circumstances behind the Mercado affair, hence no mention of why there was opposition to his being appointed to the Court.

[4Freedom]

From the standpoint of stealing the 11,000 acres owned by the U.S. Taxpayers at Roosevelt Roads, Sila Calderon was "brilliant".

Bush and his fellow RINOs thumped their chests and threatened to sell Roosevelt Roads to the highest bidder with 100% of the proceeds of the sale going to the Navy, but it was an empty threat.

It was all a pack of lies.

It was just more RINO smoke and mirrors.

In the last moment their urge to pander to the Puerto Ricans over-whelmed them and they gave the whole base away.

Not only that, but other federal agencies have already jumped in to give Puerto Rico more than twice what they would have received from the Navy.

When it comes to ripping-off the U.S. Taxpayers, the Puerto Ricans are all "brilliant".