By The Star Staff
Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President Jesús Manuel Ortiz González, announced Thursday that after having completed the process of filing candidacies for the November elections, 40% of the candidates for elective positions under the “Pava” -- the party’s emblem -- are women.
The achievement represents the PDP’s commitment to an equitable presence on the ballot and to represent the reality of the island’s electorate.
“We are committed to building a Puerto Rico in which every citizen feels represented, and these candidacies are a reflection of our commitment to a more equitable and just society,” Ortiz González said, while emphasizing that diversity of perspectives enriches the quality of democracy and strengthens the legitimacy of institutions. “Currently, of the 1,400 candidates for the PDP, 565 are women.”
According to data provided by the PDP’s Office of the Electoral Commissioner, in the candidacies for at-large legislators, one for the House and one for the Senate is a woman. In the case of senators by district, of a total of 24 candidates, eight are women. Meanwhile, 13 PDP candidates for district representative are women, as are 22 mayoral candidates, and among candidates for seats in municipal assemblies, 520 of 1,189 are women.
Ortiz González added that: “Women are 53% of Puerto Rico’s population and 54% of election participants; however, only 20% of elected officials are women.”
“In the case of the PDP, of the 34 women who aspired to elective positions in 2020, only 11 managed to become legislators and five became mayors,” he said. “We need to change that paradigm and this data tells us that we are on the right track.”
PDP Vice President Sen. Migdalia González Arroyo, meanwhile, thanked “each woman who responded to our call to insert themselves in this political process that gives us the opportunity to make ourselves visible and to be an active part in the decision-making processes, recognizing that in the PDP we are an inclusive party that offers opportunities to women to contribute to a more equitable Puerto Rico.”
“This is a time of action, a moment to strengthen our solidarity and work together for a Puerto Rico where every woman has the opportunity to lead, influence and thrive,” she said.
Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes added that “as president of the Popular Women’s Organization, we promote that in each election there are more women aspiring to elective positions.”
“Of course, being a woman is not enough,” she said. “To that we must add commitment, preparation and a fighting spirit. We’re moving forward.”
Ortiz González vowed that “as president, I will continue to work to encourage the participation of women in politics, ensuring that they have the opportunity not only to run, but also to lead and contribute to the development of policies that benefit all Puerto Ricans.”
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