Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Announces Candidacy for 2020

(Photo : flickr.com)

After weeks of speculation about her political plans, Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez finally announced Monday that she will run for election to a full-term in 2020.

Filling in the gubernatorial position following the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló in July, Vasquez became the island's second unelected governor in seven decades following Puerto Rico's periods of political turmoil.

"The people are tired of traditional politicians. I come from the bottom, for 32 years as a prosecutor, as a women's advocate and as secretary of justice," Vázquez said.

Vázquez became the U.S. territory's second female governor after millions of Puerto Ricans took to the streets their call for the ousting of Ricardo Rosselló as governor after someone leaked hundreds of derogatory messages between him and administration officials and associates. In an article by The Guardian, there are 11 members of his inner circle who partook in a series of homophobic and sexist jokes while others mocked the victims of Hurricane Maria.

She will be running opposite Pedro Pierluisi, the island's former nonvoting representative in Congress, who is running for the nomination of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party. It can be recalled that Rosselló named Pierluisi his successor and had sworn in immediately after his resignation. However, the court declared his swearing-in unconstitutional.

Before Vasquez took over, many Puerto Ricans have expressed doubt about her leadership, according to an article by People's World.

She also previously expressed via twitter that she had no interest in taking the governor's position and actually hoped Ricardo Rossello, would nominate a different successor.

When the Supreme Court appointed Vasquez as the governor, Puerto Ricans held massive protests for her resignation which began trending on Twitter under the hashtag #WandaRenuncia.

Business Insider cited the reasons why people called for her ouster. First, she was accused of delaying the investigation on questionable licensing of medical marijuana clinics in Puerto Rico.

In Twitter, Vasquez responded to the accusations in a tweet which was originally written in Spanish.

"The interpretations that were published today correspond to vicious attacks that seek to attack our integrity," she said. "The interpretation that has been given to these matters is false and defamatory."

When Vázquez became secretary of justice was also accused of delaying investigations of the members of the New Progressive Party, of which she and Rosselló are both members.

Moreover, Vázquez was also charged for improperly dragging her feet to a case involving her daughter and son-in-law after an alleged theft of government property occurred in their home. However, due to lack of evidence, she was later cleared.

As an attorney specializing in domestic and sexual violence, Vazquez was accused of not prioritizing the needs of women on the island during her leadership term at the Office of Women's Affairs from 2010 to 2017.

This stemmed from her silence amid the rise of gender-based violence on the island.

Furthermore, People's World reported that Vásquez is linked to a number of the previous administration's corrupt practices. She was also accused of ditching investigations on alleged mismanagement of hurricane aid.