Wanda Vázquez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Vázquez in 2019 | |
| Governor of Puerto Rico | |
| In office August 7, 2019 – January 2, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ricardo Rosselló Pedro Pierluisi(de facto)[a] |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Pierluisi |
| 19thSecretary of Justice of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 2, 2017 – August 7, 2019 | |
| Governor | Ricardo Rosselló Pedro Pierluisi(de facto) |
| Preceded by | César Miranda |
| Succeeded by | Dennise Longo Quiñones[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wanda Vázquez Garced (1960-07-09)July 9, 1960 (age 64) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | New Progressive |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 2019)[2] Republican (2019–present)[3][4] |
| Spouse | Jorge Díaz Reverón |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BA) Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law (JD) |
Wanda Emilia Vázquez Garced (born July 9, 1960)[5][6] is aPuerto Rican politician and attorney who served as the188thGovernor of Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2021.[7][8] Prior to her tenure as governor, she served as the 19thSecretary of Justice from 2017 to 2019. A member of theNew Progressive Party andRepublican Party of Puerto Rico, Vázquez is the second female governor in Puerto Rican history, afterSila María Calderón. She was constitutionally appointed to the office following the resignation ofRicardo Roselló, and the judicial annulation ofPedro Pierluisi's short-lived government in the aftermath of theTelegramgate Scandal. On August 16, 2020, she failed to secure the New Progressive Party nomination for Governor of Puerto Rico in the 2020 elections, losing toPedro Pierluisi.
Vázquez Garced's ascension to the governorship was at the epicenter of a landmark decision by theSupreme Court of Puerto Rico, in the case of Senado de Puerto Rico v. Hon. Pedro R. Pierluisi;[9] Puerto Rico's highestcourt derogated a clause added by Puerto Rico Law #7 of 2005 (Law No. 7-2005) to theConstitution of Puerto Rico. This annulled Pedro Pierluisi's government, and reinforced the 1952 Constitution's provisions for succession of government.
On August 4, 2022, Vázquez was arrested by theFBI, on charges of corruption, over a bribery case connected to her2020 gubernatorial campaign; she had demanded the Commissioner of Financial Institutions to resign.[10][11]
Vázquez was born inSanturce, San Juan and raised inGuaynabo.[5] Her parents worked in a factory, her father as a security guard. Her mother died at the age of 53. Her father has been remarried for twenty years. She has a younger brother and an older sister. She began her primary studies at the Ramón Marín and Margarita Janer schools inGuaynabo, Puerto Rico.[12] Vázquez became interested in law at an early age. She said in an interview that she used to watch TV shows likeHawaii Five-O with her father, which led her to realize she wanted to follow a career along that line. Vázquez studied at theUniversity of Puerto Rico, where she completed her bachelor's degree. After that, she completed herJuris doctor (J.D.) at theInteramerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law.[13]
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During the 1980s, Vázquez worked for thePuerto Rico Department of Housing. She then worked as adistrict attorney for thePuerto Rico Department of Justice for 20 years. Vázquez specialized in cases of domestic and gender violence. She also worked in the Criminal Division for the Bayamón Prosecutor's office.[citation needed]
In 2010, Vázquez was appointed to replace Ivonne Feliciano as the head of the Office for Women's Rights of the island.[14] On November 30, 2016, Governor-electRicardo Rosselló nominated her for the position ofSecretary of Justice of Puerto Rico. She was confirmed and sworn in January 18, 2017.[15]
Vázquez was initially expected to becomeGovernor of Puerto Rico after the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló on August 2, 2019.[16][17] She was met with opposition, with critics calling for her resignation due to allegations of corruption and inability to deal withdomestic violence on the island. Protests against her proposed succession as governor took place, the most notable of these being theSomos Más march (Spanish for "We Are More") a title alluding to a popular chant during the protests calling for Rosselló's resignation.[18] The hashtag #WandaRenuncia (Spanish for "Wanda Resign") began trending on Twitter soon after Rosselló announced his intention to resign.[19][20][21][22] Vázquez said on Twitter that she had no interest in becoming governor,[23] and that she would take the position only if she were constitutionally required to.[24]
On July 31, Rosselló announced that he was appointing former Resident CommissionerPedro Pierluisi to the vacant position of theSecretary of State, as the secretary of state superseded the secretary of justice in the order of succession.[25] On August 1, however, the Puerto Rican Senate blocked Pierluisi from being confirmed as secretary of state in time for Rosselló's resignation on August 2, meaning that he only served in the office on acting basis.[26] Upon Rosselló's resignation, Pierluisi succeeded to the governorship in ade facto manner instead of Vázquez. However, as he had not been confirmed by the Senate, the validity of his governorship was called into question.[27]
On August 7, 2019, theSupreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled that Pierluisi was sworn in on unconstitutional grounds and removed him from office, effective at 5 p.m.AST. At that time, Vázquez became the secondfemale governor of Puerto Rico.[28][29]
Vázquez stated she wanted to recoverHurricane Maria relief funds, and review all government contracts to ensure they are managed correctly, free of corruption. She said she wanted to work with PresidentDonald Trump to help the island of Puerto Rico and its 3.2 million American citizens.[30] She stated all contracts signed by Ricardo Rosselló would be reviewed.[31] At the same time, HUD (Housing and Urban Development) stated that hurricane funds would be delayed to Puerto Rico due to corruption, and incapacity to absorb funds for projects, respectively.[32]
In the aftermath of2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes residents discovered unused aid from Hurricane Maria in a warehouse in Ponce and as a result Vázquez fired her emergency management director.[33] On July 21, 2020, thePuerto Rico Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor's Panel opened a case against Vázquez for alleged violation of the Commonwealth's ethics law, as well as federal regulations, related to her handling of aid to the earthquake victims.[34] She responded by accusing the judge in charge of the investigation of being a supporter of her primary elections challenger Pedro Pierluisi. Vázquez was ordered by the panel to present evidence in the form of photos which she claimed demonstrated that political motives were behind the investigation, but she failed to provide said evidence.[35]
On March 12, 2020, Vázquez declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico and activated thePuerto Rican National Guard as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.[36]
On October 6, 2020, Vásquez endorsedDonald Trump for the2020 United States presidential election.[37]
On August 16, 2020, Vázquez lost the gubernatorial primary race toPedro Pierluisi. With 75.6% of voting stations reporting, Pierluisi had won about 57.9% of the votes to Vazquez’s 42.1%, clinching the nomination for New Progressive Party. Pierluisi claimed victory after Vázquez recognized his lead and said she respected the will of voters.[38][39]
Vázquez is married toJorge Díaz Reverón, a judge inCaguas, Puerto Rico. She has two daughters, Stephanie and Beatriz Díaz Vázquez.[16]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Pedro Pierluisi De facto | Governor of Puerto Rico 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
