2008 NPP primaries for Governor New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico)



luis g. fortuño, governor of puerto rico (2009-2013)


on march 7, 2007, rosselló stated no longer interested in senate presidency , focused attention in preventing resident commissioner luis fortuño winning march 2008 gubernatorial primary, , allowed name placed in nomination party s gubernatorial primary. mcclintock , 4 other senators won in san juan superior court suit nullify sanctions , expulsions party leadership has levied against them. puerto rico supreme court confirmed lower court decision 5-to-1 vote. result, mcclintock , supporters recognized npp members , free run under party banner. shortly after primary polls closed on march 9, 2008, pedro rosselló conceded victory luis fortuño after large margin of votes in favor of opponent in npp party primaries presidency of party , gubernatorial nomination. rosselló admitted defeat before votes tallied claiming fortuño next candidate of pnp party. in rosselló s conceding speech said luis fortuño has been selected people new president of party , candidate governor. people speak , obey, fortuño here party , here office (signaling party s official headquarters). s you, loyal members of party, make sure new leadership works statehood puerto rico . after conceding speech rumored , announced @ fortuño s headquarters former governor arrive there along loyal supporter , mayor of capital city of san juan, jorge santini, after fortuño s followers waited hours see leaders united neither rosselló or santini arrived. after primary on heavily rumored many rosselló not campaigning fortuño , d resign senator go home in virginia. on march 10, 2008, rosselló sent media written statement regarding future in confirmed retiring active politics , not campaigning candidate, finish term senator arecibo district, did.


primary backlash

most of rosselló s supporters elected in primary , endorsed fortuño candidate governor. however, several prominent npp members demonstrated strong opposition fortuño s candidacy , victory.


as results of march 9, 2008 primaries announced, npp s second vice president, miriam ramírez de ferrer, announced immediate resignation, saying right no longer second vice president of party. not see me ever again involved in active politics, party reunions or party meetings, plan become private citizen. there s lot of things haven t done want do, , ll things have statehood cause . ramírez candidate resident commissioner in primaries , openly supporting rosselló. lost fortuño s candidate, pedro pierluisi, , rosselló supporter defeated, former senate president, charlie rodríguez. when ramírez asked media if vote fortuño, replied vote secret .


another strong voice against fortuño npp former president leo díaz. díaz accused fortuño , wife of having ties pdp law firms , colonialist interests. @ november 4, 2007, rally called con fuerza para vencer (with strength win), díaz said, in primary life of party in jeopardy. other candidate, fortuño, isn t real statehood defender! should explain why has ties pdp s law firms , why colonialist special interests financing campaign[...] . has since rejoined party activities , chairs santini s 2012 reelection efforts.


san juan mayor jorge santini made strong statements against fortuño during primary campaign, supported rosselló. said fortuño wasn t full-time leader , made arrangements other causes . subsequently campaigned fortuño, both in 2008 2012.








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