Rivera Schatz says opposition faces bleak future in 2026

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

By The Star Staff

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz launched a sharp attack this week on Puerto Rico’s opposition parties, certain media outlets, and progressive groups, predicting that they face a difficult road as the 2026 elections approach.

In a social media post, Rivera Schatz dismissed the opposition as ineffective and devoid of ideas, singling out the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership for failing to offer solutions to the island’s pressing challenges. He argued that 2025 was “a terrible year for the opposition,” claiming it lacked traction and failed to present concrete proposals. The PDP had not provided a reaction to the remarks as of press time.

The Senate leader pointed to recent opinion pieces by Rafael Cox Alomar and Anabel Torres Colberg as evidence of what he described as the structural weakness of opposition forces. He also accused segments of the press of being “biased, populist, and leftist,” alleging that they have tried -- and failed -- to create a narrative of internal division within the governing New Progressive Party (NPP).

While he has said publicly that the NPP is united and has blamed the press for trying to stir divisions, Rivera Schatz’s remarks came just one day after he publicly called for the resignation of La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández, saying he had caused significant harm, and Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz, whom he criticized for failing to improve Puerto Rico’s energy system in a sharply worded message to the governor.

Rivera Schatz also asserted in his message that opposition leaders lack the capacity to solve the island’s problems and predicted that their struggles will continue into the next election cycle.