Third Puerto Rico Governor Since Friday Steps Up Reluctantly
- Vazquez is sworn in even as speculation starts about No. 4
- Commonwealth in turmoil for weeks amid leadership void
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Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez on Wednesday was sworn in as Puerto Rico’s third governor in five days. She lacks a secretary of state, a new justice secretary to replace herself, assorted other aides and officials -- and the desire to do the job.
Vazquez had said she’d take the oath only out of duty after the bankrupt U.S. commonwealth’s supreme court threw out former Governor Ricardo Rossello’s chosen successor Wednesday. Pedro Pierluisi was Rossello’s pick as secretary of state, next in line after Rossello resigned amid a texting scandal. But the judges ruled unanimously that Pierluisi violated the island’s constitution when he claimed the governor’s office last week, because he was never confirmed by the local Senate.