Rodríguez Veve resigns from Dignity Project

Sen. Joanne Rodríguez Veve

By THE STAR STAFF

Sen. Joanne Rodríguez Veve announced Thursday her departure from the conservative political party Proyecto Dignidad (Dignity Project) and affirmed that she will continue her legislative duties as an independent senator.

“After careful and thoughtful reflection, I announce that I have left Proyecto Dignidad. As of today, I will serve as an independent senator,” Rodríguez Veve stated during a press conference. “As a matter of principle, I cannot belong to a political party that ignores compliance with its own constitutional norms and allows the obstruction of what should be one of its fundamental missions: the protection of the dignity of human life.”

Her departure was triggered by the party’s refusal to support Senate Bill 297, which she authored. The bill aimed to establish protocols for handling abortions in minors under 15, particularly in cases involving sexual assault. Rodríguez Veve criticized the party for yielding to external pressures and failing to uphold its foundational principles, especially its commitment to protecting human dignity and life.

Rodríguez Veve also questioned the party’s lack of commitment to maintaining neutrality regarding political status, a principle she believes is essential to its foundation.

The senator expressed gratitude to her voters for their support and affirmed that she will continue to collaborate with all legislative delegations “when we share a common purpose,” including Dignity Project Rep. Lisie Burgos Muñiz.

Born in San Juan in 1983, Rodríguez Veve holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a juris doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, as well as a master’s degree in canon law from Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain. Her professional background includes legal work in ecclesiastical matrimonial nullity cases and human resources, particularly in labor law. She entered politics in 2020, becoming the first senator elected under the banner of the Dignity Project, a party known for its socially conservative and pro-life stance.