Published January 08, 2015
Puerto Rico's governor says he will hold a new plebiscite by 2016 to decide the future of the island's political status.
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Wednesday that his Popular Democratic Party is working on a definition for the enhanced commonwealth status it supports. He has previously said he would support a constitutional assembly to decide the U.S. territory's status.
The U.S. Congress would have to approve any change.
President Barack Obama's administration has pledged $2.5 million to finance a plebiscite. The ballot would have to be approved by the U.S. attorney general before going to voters.
Puerto Rico held a nonbinding, two-part referendum in November 2012 whose results have been disputed.
Nonbinding referendums also were held in 1967, 1993 and 1998. Seeking statehood has never garnered a clear majority.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/puerto-ricos-governor-pledges-new-plebiscite-by-2016-to-decide-us-islands-political-status