The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico may soon hold a vote on its future as an independent country or as America's 51st state.

With the looming plebiscite, one of Puerto Rico's two major parties, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), is planning to either reconsider or reaffirm its current stance on Puerto Rican statehood or independence.

The question of statehood or independence has always been a hot-button issue on the island. And last month, several U.S. legislators proposed that the territory should vote for the island to become either fully independent, be a U.S. state, or be independent but with an association with the U.S. 

The latter choice would have citizens possibly retaining U.S. citizenship. However, this option would also mean that Puerto Rico would also lose its commonwealth status.

Popular Democratic Party (PDP) president, José Luis Dalmau, announced Thursday that party members will get to decide their stance following the proposal.

So far, the party has strongly supported the status quo, which is having a quasi-autonomous government that is not independent from the U.S, and citizens could enjoy the perks of U.S. citizenship. This choice might make or break the party, which was founded in the 1930s.

On the other hand, its rival party, the New Progressive Party, currently advocates statehood. It is the party of current Puerto Rico governor Pedro Pierluisi.

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Puerto Rico Statehood Not Considered in Party Vote

The PDP will be holding its vote on its possible stance on August 14. However, Dalmau said the only possible choices during the vote were maintaining the current status quo and a free association option that he did not define.

PDP spokesman Ángel Raúl Matos told Associated Press that it's too early to tell which way the majority of party members will vote. Opinions currently vary within the party on which type of commonwealth they want Puerto Rico to be.

Dalmau has stated that it is up to the party's supporters on which option they will choose. Approximately 400,000 Puerto Ricans have identified themselves as PDP supporters, and it received around 32 percent of the votes during the previous gubernatorial elections in 2020.

And it was a strong showing, as the eventual winning party, the New Progressive Party, only received 33 percent of the votes. Support for both parties has also been declining, as frustration over corruption and mismanagement has been growing.

Possible Party Vote on Puerto Rican Independence is a Big Gamble

Dalmau is currently supporting the status quo for the island, while many others within the party favor independence with the association. 

According to political analyst Mario Negrón Portillo, Dalmau wants to put an end to the debate within the party. However, in doing so, Portillo said Dalmau might be gambling with his party's future.

On August 14, PDP officials in each of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities will be holding the vote as they recognize their party's supporters and allow them to vote on the party's official stance on the matter of independence.

Those who are not recognized as members can still vote, but they would be asked to fill out a membership statement.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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