The president that Puerto Rico knocked down

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Editor's note: Silverio Pérez, writer, author of the best sellers among which are: "LaVitrina Rota", "A mirror in the jungle" and "I only have the story I tell you." Radio and television program host and documentary producer. He has recorded more than a dozen albums. Co-founder of the Puerto Rican groups: "Knitting in another are" (new trova) and "Los Rayos Gamma" (political satire).

(CNN Spanish) - My fascination with history and literature forces me to examine with magnifying glass a character whose performances before the curtain of his last scene fell outlined the profile of his true personality with unequivocal sharpness. I am referring to the former governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, whom intense and creative demonstrations in the street and on social networks forced him to resign.

Ricardo Rosselló Nevares was the candidate that the militancy of the New Progressive Party, a believer in that Puerto Rico must be the 51st state of the United States, chose in an internal election. The young scientist, a chemical engineering graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a doctorate in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan, came back to the Caribbean island. He prevailed in a primary within his party, not because his qualities were vastly superior to those of his opponent, Pedro Pierluisi, but because the name Rosselló weighed in the memory of the base of that political party.

Father Rossello was governor of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001 and, although many officials in his cabinet were accused or convicted of acts of corruption, many claim to have left major infrastructure works, such as a convention center, a coliseum, a train urban, and the Health Card based on the health reform of US President Bill Clinton that never materialized. These works contributed many millions to the debt that eventually led Puerto Rico to bankruptcy.

Rosselló Jr. developed a campaign for the 2016 elections based on the fact that he had a scientific plan to solve the problems of Puerto Rico and that he was the only candidate who could work as a team with the Fiscal Control Board that governs the finances of the unincorporated territory

Hurricane Maria, the tight control of the Fiscal Board and the conflicts of economic interests of his friends and contractors made Ricardo Rosselló very soon merely Ricky, protagonist of countless memes in social networks. After that Ricky was put the hashtag or label #renounce for the ignominy chat. This word never found a better definition than the one that emerges from the 889 pages of a private chat that Rosselló had with members of his cabinet and close advisors revealed on July 13, 2019. Mockery, homophobia, contempt for press freedom and the tone of immaturity and total disconnection with the suffering of the country, angered the people.

On the precipitous return of his vacation to Europe while the island was horrified by what was revealed in the chat, Ricky said a "I'm sorry" that few believed and continued on his throne as if nothing had happened. The town continued to occupy the streets and did not cease to ask for the resignation until the largest march in the history of Puerto Rico on Monday, July 22, 2019. Ricky announced his resignation, without obvious regret, late on the night of the Eve of July 25.

From that night until August 2 at five in the afternoon, when his resignation became official, Ricky was responsible for leaving no doubt that it was the same Ricky of the ignominy chat. He signed dozens of laws, 58 of them the day before, among which 122 and 141 stand out that reduce the obligation of the State to make public its actions, thus limiting the constitutional rights to access information and the exercise of freedom of press.

Another of the laws turned the application or renewal of the driver's license into a way to automatically enroll 18-year-olds in the United States Army Selective Service system

Two days before leaving, Ricky promoted a senior police officer in the fortress with the rank of sergeant, to colonel. He also made appointments left and right, highlighting that of Senator Margarita Nolasco as executive director of the

Administration of Compensation for Automobile Accidents (ACAA).

Another is the case of the lawyer who called herself “the motorized lawyer” (Roxanna Soto), who from one day to another became legal counsel for the first lady. It is also said that Pastor Jorge Rashkae went to pray to the first family in their last days.

After signing contracts for millions of dollars, on August 2, 2019 Ricky became the first elected governor who had to resign from his position. Oh, and he took some escorts out of Puerto Rico, paid by the people, ensuring that his life was in danger

This is a brief account of how little is known to have happened from July 24 to August 2, 2019 at five in the afternoon when his resignation was effective. Imagine what is not known.

Ricardo Rosselló