The future of Puerto Rico’s political status and its rebounding but fragile economy are at the center of fiery debates as the island’s two biggest political parties hold contentious gubernatorial primaries on Sunday. Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, head of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, is seeking a second term, running against Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Jenniffer González.
Other voter complaints include the difficulty of obtaining business permits, a fractured education system, and the island's lack of access to capital markets after the local government emerged two years ago from the largest debt restructuring in U.S. history. Meanwhile, more than $9 billion of debt owed by Puerto Rico’s power company, the largest of any government agency, remains unresolved.