Puerto Rico to Renew Debate on Political Status

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico August 17, 2013 (AP)





The party of Puerto Rico's governor is pushing for a constitutional assembly to help resolve the U.S. territory's political status.

Members of the Popular Democratic Party expect to debate the issue Sunday at their annual convention.

The proposal states that a constitutional assembly should be held if President Barack Obama's administration does not present a Congress-approved measure to resolve the status within a year.

The White House is seeking $2.5 million to finance a future plebiscite that the U.S. attorney general would have to approve before it goes to voters. The announcement earlier this year followed disagreements about the results of a nonbinding, two-part referendum held in November.

Puerto Rico also held nonbinding referendums in 1967, 1993 and 1998, with statehood never garnering a clear majority.


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