Working People's Party (Puerto Rico)

The Working People's Party (Spanish: Partido del Pueblo Trabajador or PPT) was a Puerto Rican socialist political party. It was founded on December 5, 2010, in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, by a group of activists, students, teachers, professors, union workers, actors, and public and private employees.[4] As of 2016, the party had no opinion on the issue of the political status of Puerto Rico, instead saying that they believe the decision should be made by the people of Puerto Rico in a referendum.[5]

Working People's Party
Partido del Pueblo Trabajador
PresidentAnneliesse Sánchez Zambrana
SpokespersonPedro Muñiz García
Candidate for governorRafael Bernabe Riefkohl
FoundedDecember 5, 2010; 13 years ago (2010-12-05)
Dissolvedlate 2016
Succeeded byCitizens' Victory Movement (majority)
HeadquartersAve. Comerío, DD16, Río Hondo, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Youth wingJuventud PPT
IdeologyLeft-wing populism[1]
Democratic socialism[2]
Social justice
Anti-colonialism[3]
Political positionLeft-wing
ColorsPurple
Website
www.pueblotrabajador.com

The party was de facto dissolved in late 2016 after opting not to renew its registration, with most of its members joining the Citizens' Victory Movement.

Certification edit

The party worked to get the 100,000 endorsements required by the new electoral law of the Commonwealth in order to enroll with the Puerto Rico State Commission on Elections (CEE). On June 1, 2012, the CEE (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones) certified the PPT as an official party after getting the required number of endorsements.[6]

Electoral performance edit

The party's candidate for governor, Rafael Bernabe Riefkohl, obtained more than 17,000 votes in the November 6, 2012 election, turning the party into the fourth most-voted political force in that electoral event.[7] Their campaign slogan was: "Para romper el cerco electoral, abre paso, vota PPT", which roughly translates as "To break the electoral barrier, take a step, vote PPT".

In 2016, Rafael Bernabe was once again the PPT candidate for governor. Mariana Nogales was the candidate for Resident Commissioner. Bernabe received 5,373 votes for governor (0.34% of the vote), finishing in 6th and last place. Nogales received 18,871 votes for resident commissioner (1.29% of the vote) and finished 4th.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Fortuño Bernier, Francisco J. (3 September 2016). "Fighting Puerto Rico's Federal Coup". Jacobin. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. ^ Fred M. Shelley (26 May 2015). "Puerto Rico: Commonwealth". Governments around the World: From Democracies to Theocracies: From Democracies to Theocracies. ABC-CLIO. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-4408-3813-2. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ "The Working People's Party of Puerto Rico (PPT) Speaks to Young Voters at UPRM". Her Campus at University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. 15 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Nace un partido del pueblo trabajador en San Juan, PR". Red Betances (in Spanish). Puerto Rico. December 5, 2010. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "Programa del Partido del Pueblo Trabajador" (PDF). www.caribbeanelections.com. 28 August 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ "CEE certifica al Partido del Pueblo Trabajador". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: GFR Media. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  7. ^ "CEE Event". Archived from the original on 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  8. ^ "Elecciones2016". Archived from the original on 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-17.