By The Star Staff
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia said Tuesday that despite “the fact that they are very late” in approving amendments to the Electoral Code, he will evaluate what, if anything, comes from the Legislative Assembly.
“They are getting later each time, but once again, the ball is not in my court, it is not in the court of the New Progressive Party,” the governor said in response to questions from the press. “It really is that what has arisen here is an internal controversy in the Popular [Democratic] Party.”
“It may be that some things have already been tossed overboard completely. In others, well, if they can be attended to, then they will be attended to,” he added. “We are willing to run the election process under the current Electoral Code. We have said it, we are in the best attitude to improve it. But obviously for that there has to be a negotiation between both parties.”
Pierluisi pointed out that “the vast majority of the amendments that my party agreed to make to the Electoral Code are amendments proposed by the legislators of the Popular Democratic Party; that is, the majority of the amendments.”
“We include some, for example, the age of 60, that those who are 60 years of age or older can vote in advance, either by mail or at home,” he said. “That comes from us, but there are fewer [amendments] that come from us.”
Pierluisi insisted on staying out of the talks.
“I’m not going to get involved in that,” he said. “I do not have to participate in those conversations that … I imagine [Senate President] José Luis Dalmau and [House Speaker Rafael] ‘Tatito’ Hernández will have with the president of the Popular Democratic Party. It’s their business, but my people are available to help. In other words, when they come with their proposals, then we will attend to them and we will vote in favor or against at the time.”