For the first time in history women occupy 14 of the 27 seats in the Senate of Puerto Rico, the majority in this legislative chamber whose body has been sworn in today, Saturday, forming the nineteenth Legislative Assembly.
The Secretary of the Senate, Manuel Torres, this morning highlighted the milestone during the inauguration of the new lawmakers representing five parties: Popular Democratic Party (PPD), New progressive party (PNP), Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Citizen Victory Movement (MVC) y Worthiness project (PD).
“Your challenge is enormous,” said Torres. “My request is that you keep that obligation until the last day in the force.”
The new senators are:
– Maria de Lourdes Santiago, PIP
– Joanne Rodríguez Veve, PD
– Ana Irma Rivera Lassén, MVC
– Keren Riquelme, PNP
– Elizabeth Rosa Velez, PPD
– Ada García Montes, PPD
– Migdalia González, PPD
– Marially González, PPD
– Gretchen Hau, PPD
– Wanda Soto, PNP
– Rosamar Trujillo Plumer, PPD
– Marissa Jiménez, PNP
– Nitza Morán, PNP
– Migdalia Padilla Alvelo, PNP
However, Trujillo Plumey could not be sworn in this morning due to a delay in the delivery of his financial report, his spokeswoman Daphne Flores explained.
The new Senate consists of 12 senators from the PPD, 10 from the PNP, one (1) senator from the PIP, one (1) senator from the PD, an independent senator and two (2) senators from the MVC.