Puerto Rico Government Upholds Statehood in Vote Hit By Boycott
Demonstrators hold a banner at protest near the State Election Commission building during Puerto Rico's status referendum plebiscite in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday, June 11, 2017.
Photographer: Alejandro Granadillo/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Puerto Rico's governor is vowing to make the U.S. territory the 51st state after statehood won in a non-binding referendum hit by a boycott and low turnout that raised questions about the vote's legitimacy.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello told a couple hundred supporters waving U.S. flags late Sunday that he will soon create a commission to appoint two senators and five representatives to demand statehood from the U.S. Congress, which has to approve any changes to the island's political status.