The demonstrations in Puerto Rico caused Ricardo Rosselló to fall. But now, uncertainty is looming

Shortly after Rosselló announced his resignation, much of Puerto Rico has turned into a huge block party. Festive music resounded in the streets as fireworks lit up the sky.

After days of defiance, Rosselló yielded to the demands of the protesters just as legislators were preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings.

In a video posted Wednesday on Facebook, the governor announced that he would resign at 5 pm. AND August 2nd.

"In recent days, many of you have exercised your right to freedom of expression," Rosselló said in his video. "The claims were overwhelming and I received them with the highest degree of humility."

He also used the video to extol the achievements.

"Today we have the first positive economic growth for more than 10 years with 4.1% growth and the lowest unemployment rate in our history, relieving thousands of fathers and mothers from the sufferings of poverty." "said Rosselló.

"I wish peace and progress to our people.Transformation and progress are not the work of one person, it is the product of the work of the people."

Who will be the next governor?

The Secretary of State of Puerto Rico would normally be the next in the line of succession. But this post is vacant after former Secretary of State Luis G. Rivera Marín – one of the participants in the fleeing discussion – resigned at this month's protests.

Then the Secretary of Justice, Wanda Vázquez. But she is a longtime ally of Rosselló and some Puerto Ricans say she does not trust him.

"It would be terrible, it's like taking out a badroach and replacing it with another one," said Nora Morales, a retired company from Old San Juan.

"Why did not she ask their phones earlier to investigate?" Capella said.

But Vázquez said that she was ready to take the helm.

"Once the resignation will be official, if necessary, I will badume the historic mandate," according to the Puerto Rican constitution, Vázquez said.

It is possible that the governor is trying to appoint a new secretary of state during the coming week, before resigning officially. This person should be approved by the legislature before taking office as governor.

But Rosselló hinted that Vázquez would probably be his successor.

"At this time, according to the legal order, this person would be the current secretary of the Ministry of Justice, lawyer Wanda Vázquez," said Rosselló in his video Wednesday.

The fight is not over

"Previously, people sat watching TV without complaining or doing anything," said García Coll, a member of a community organizing group composed mainly of artists and writers. "People are no longer sitting in front of their television.It's the difference.I call it a peaceful revolution."

Cynthia García Coll, a psychologist who teaches at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, said the problems on the island went beyond the upper echelon.

"Rosselló is a symptom of a much deeper problem," she said.

Many Puerto Ricans have lost confidence in the new Rosselló Progressive Party, which favors the American states, and the People's Democratic Party, which supports the current status of the Commonwealth.

But even if Rosselló is about to leave, his party still controls both sides of the legislature.

Senate Speaker Thomas Rivera Schatz, who is also the new interim president of the New Progressive Party, said Rosselló's resignation "puts an end to a very sad chapter in Puerto Rico's history."

"It was a difficult decision for him and his family, but it was the right one," Rivera said.

"To the people of Puerto Rico, we badure you that our efforts to improve the quality of life here (…) will remain strong and nothing will deter us from this goal."