The most recent scientific poll conducted by Puerto Rico’s main newspaper El Nuevo Día about the political status of Puerto Rico once again did not bring any surprise but this time the focus was placed on the upcoming political status referendum. The US Statehood option leads by a small margin (41%) while the sovereignty option of Sovereign Commonwealth-Free Association (ELA Soberano) came in a strong second place (35%), a second sovereignty option came in third: the Republic or Independence option (4%). 20% did not answer, are undecided or do not vote.
A second scientific poll was conducted by Puerto Rico's TV network WAPA with similar results: 43% US Statehood, 33% Sovereign Commonwealth-Free Association (ELA Soberano) and 5% Independence option. 16% said none of the above and 3% do not know.
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A 2 part referendum is scheduled this year. It will be held along with Puerto Rico's general elections in November 2012.
The first part will ask voters if they want to move out of the present relationship with the US, the ''unincorporated territorial status'', if the majority says yes then a second part will ask which non-territorial and non colonial status (as defined by the United Nations Decolonization Committee) they want.
In the second part they will find 2 political pathways: Integration/Annexation or Sovereignty. The integration option (requirements: unspecified) has only one choice: US Statehood (Estadidad), the sovereignty option has 2 choices: Sovereign Commonwealth/Free Association (ELA Soberano) or Independence (Independencia).
The former ruling party, Partido Popular (PPD), has criticized the referendum. The party is historically divided between the right wing faction in favor of the current commonwealth-status quo and the center-left pro sovereignty faction which support the ELA Soberano. A status referendum held along with the general elections could hurt the party cohesion, cohesion that has been already threatened by a new pro sovereignty political party (MUS) , party which is expected to participate in the general elections with a strong pro sovereignty (pro sovereign commonwealth/free association and pro independence), a moderate nationalist stance and strongly in favor of decolonization.
The president of the pro independence party (PIP) praised the referendum scheduled by the head of government and pro us-statehood leader Luis Fortuño (PNP) and said that the referendum is like a cannon pointing at the heart of the present colonial status.
“un cañón apuntando al corazón de la colonia” - Rubén Berrios interviewed by El Nuevo Día source
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Puerto Ricans have voted on the status of their country three times over the past 44 years. The first referendum (1967): over 60% in favor of remaining a Estado Libre Asociado (Associated Free State or 'Commonwealth', political relationship classified by the US Congress as a 'Unincorporated territory'). The second referendum (1993): votes for the current Commonwealth status declined to a 48.6%. The third referendum in 1998 produced a majority of 50.3% in favor of None of the Above, the current Commonwealth option defined as a 'Unincorporated territory under US sovereignty' got only 0.3% of the votes.
Puerto Rico in 2012: To be, or not to be, that is the referendum question
Video below: During the Panamerican Olympic Games 2011, Puerto Rico wins gold medal in Basketball, Mexico came in 2nd place, USA in third place. The Puerto Rican national anthem 'La Borinqueña' is played during the award ceremony while the puerto rican national flag is raised.