Puerto Ricans celebrated in the streets of San Juan on Wednesday evening after Governor Ricardo Rossello, known as Ricky, announced that he will resign next week, following the ‘Rickyleaks’ scandal in which leaked text messages showed him and his top aides using language described as sexist and homophobic.
Rosello announced his August 2 departure date via Facebook on Wednesday evening and his replacement will reportedly be Puerto Rico’s justice secretary Wanda Vazquez.
“Today I feel a great pride, I can’t believe it, this will go in the history books,” said Ruth Cuadros, a protester. “We were the first in history to take out a governor and I am super proud of this people.”
Footage shows crowds in the streets erupting in celebration as Rossello is seen announcing his resignation on television.
Rossello has faced calls to resign since Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism published a chat between the governor and 11 top aides in which he referred to New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito as a “whore”, while Puerto Rican official Christian Sobrino Vega joked about shooting San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and mocked Ricky Martin’s sexuality.