Homophobia, machismo and sex: the catgate that Puerto Rico has in suspense

SAN JUAN.- Almost two years ago, the

Hurricane Maria

the infrastructure has collapsed in

Puerto Rico

, left 3000 dead and exposed the inefficiency of Governor Ricardo Rosselló. But the scandal about to leave him in power focuses on a series of discussions.

The political crisis in Puerto Rico, where thousands of people took to the streets of the country for 11 days, began after the escape of homophobic, badist and obscene messages from Roselló, accompanied by a group of their entourage. They insult the island's personalities, from the mayor of San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico, to singer Ricky Martin. This episode is only the visible part of the iceberg of a deeper political crisis in the island. Then, the keys of the conflict.

When did the crisis start and why?

The political crisis erupted on July 13 when the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI) released 889 pages of discussions between Governor Rosselló and 11 close badociates through Telegram.

From late 2018 to 20 January this year, the governor and his relatives used misogynist, machismo and rude language to discuss political issues, opponents, journalists, activists, and so on. Since the publication of the talks, thousands of protesters have been invading the streets of San Juan every day.

What do cats say?

In the pages of the disclosed conversations, there is a whole battery of expletives and attacks. For example, Melissa Mark-Viverito, former city councilor for New York City, is a [hija de puta]"Or that Ricky Martin's" is so macho that he's bading men because women are not up to the job. "

It is also said that members of an American court must be "screened" or that the Budget Monitoring Board be "screwed up" to rebuild the island. With the Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, Roselló's collaborators are particularly talkative. Rosselló, called "HP", asks if "his medicines are exhausted" and Christian Sobrino, finance manager and representative before the tax supervisory board (who resigned after the scandal), said: "I saliva him by shooting him . " The governor replied that they would do him "a great favor".

In another conversation, Sobrino jokes about the bodies that have accumulated at the morgue when he discussed the budget allocated to forensic scientists after the hurricane. "Now that we are on the subject, do not we have corpses to feed our crows? [en referencia a la oposición]? he wrote.

It is not just insults. There is also what looks like a formidable plot of corruption woven in the shadows by Rosselló, who heads the New Progressive Party. The discussions demonstrate the existence of a procurement system illegally.

What happened after the chatgate?

When the chatgate was discovered, all concerned government officials resigned, with the exception of the governor. Rosselló repeatedly reiterated that he would not leave his post because he had not committed "illegal act". He apologized for "the expressions" written in the chat, that he had the habit of "releasing tensions".

Although Rosselló, 40 years old and who runs the country since 2017, said that he would not resign partially yesterday announcing that he would not stand again in November 2020 and that he would accept a political trial.

"I listened and I listened to you today […] I ate mistakes and I apologized, "said the governor of this US territory in the Caribbean, which advocates the annexation of the island as a state 51.

Why do we speak of a deeper political crisis?

The Chatgate exploded three weeks after the FBI arrested two former Rosselló officials as part of a federal corruption investigation. But filtration has also heightened the discontent on the island because of persistent corruption and mishandling of Puerto Rico 's two main parties, as well as a serious debt crisis, "he said. a stagnant economy and a slow recovery after the pbading of the government. Maria, who devastated the island in September 2017

"The city is already awake after so much indignation," said Benedicta Villegas, a retired 69-year-old nurse. "There are still people who are homeless and who are all right without light … the conversation was the visible part of the iceberg."

Which artists have joined the mobilizations?

Singers Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, Rene Perez (resident and former leader of Calle 13) and rapper Bad Bunny traveled to Puerto Rico to participate in the events. The latter two have even published a song about the current crisis in Puerto Rico: "If the whole city wants you to leave, caradura, and you stay, then we are in a dictatorship," says the text. Other artists, such as Luis Fonsi or Alejandro Sanz, have also demanded the resignation of Rosselló.