Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court overturns Pedro Pierluisi as new governor

Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the swearing in of disgraced former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s handpicked successor to the highest office was unconstitutional, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez Garced to become governor and prolonging the US territory’s political crisis.

The court ruled that last week’s swearing in of attorney Pedro Pierluisi was unconstitutional because he had not been confirmed as secretary of state by both chambers of the legislature, which was in recess.

Pierluisi was expected to replace Rosselló, who stepped down as governor following weeks of protests. Rosselló named him Puerto Rico’s secretary of state, placing him next in line to become governor.

But a legal challenge by Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz, a Rosselló rival who himself has sights on the governorship, had asked island’s highest court to intervene.