The Flâneur Collective

The elections are over. After much debate and contention by the two legacy parties and the alliance (composed of a legacy minority party and a new party) and a new religious party, the people of Puerto Rico had their ballots cast. Jennifer González has been named the next governor of Puerto Rico. The primary opponent, Juan Dalmau, was only 6% behind, a historic election for the Independence movement on the island. Still, many oppose these elections due to alleged tampering by the New Progressive Party in various polling locations and their near dominance in the Electoral Commission. One person brought the fight directly to Jennifer when she cast the ballot.

Teo is a college student who voted for the alliance. In the school where she voted, Jennifer González was there, and she decided to voice the opinions of many by calling her a “liar” and saying, “Let’s go Dalmau!”  She was shut down by police on the spot and interviewed by local press, yet it was never published. The Flâneur Collective has the opportunity to be the only magazine to directly interview Teo and understand her and the people’s frustration with the elections.

She believes the two-party system needs to be updated. “Purple, red, or blue, that has defined our elections since the beginning of democracy in Puerto Rico, and what has it given us? More of the same.” “I would’ve told anyone who stood before me the same, the truth.”

Teodoro continues: “Dalmau could be the same as them for all we know, but it doesn’t fit in my mind how we can keep putting the same people in power when we have seen once and once again how they try to deceive us.”

“Dalmau represents improvement in public services, it represents the voice of the populations that have never had representation in the government, protection for the island’s natural resources, taxes for the gringos who come to screw up our internal economy by making Airbnb rentals and contributing to gentrification of the island, filling their pockets with our money without contributing a damn.”

“Juan Dalmau represents the change that we all want, the change that even those who support Jennifer want but do not know how to acquire it since all their lives have been violet (that is, red or blue). We should all be angry, depressed, disappointed, because once again we have let our country, our MOTHER, fall. shame on us.”

The comment may seem like an isolated case to an outsider, but protests have already started. Some occurred in Fortaleza, the home of the Puerto Rican governor. Thomas Rivera Schatz, named president of the senate for a second time, has also received criticism. At 12:38 PM on November 7, 2024, an anonymous author wrote: “He has been an integral part in the PNP stealing elections. He is a certified mamaguebazo. He is also known as “el tiburon” although he probably would be scared to be in the same room as Bad Bunny. He loves reggaeton music, and he is part of the same people who said ‘cojemos de pendejos hasta los nuestros’.”

The elections have left a sour taste on 60% of the island. Additionally, 75% voted for Kamala Harris in the 1st symbolic presidential election, and around 57% voted for statehood in the referendum. Statehood is halted further by Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, who said,

“There won’t be any new states admitted that give a partisan advantage to the other side.”

Only the future will tell what the new leadership will accomplish with such complex tasks.

Alejandro González-Betancourt

1st Year Business Administration Student at the Georgia Institute of Technology