Jenniffer González, Third Woman Governor, Sworn In Amid Puerto Rico Blackout Affecting 1.3 Million

Jan 2, 2025, 03:07 PM

Jenniffer González Colón was sworn in as the new governor of Puerto Rico on Thursday, marking a historic moment as she becomes the third woman to hold the position. The ceremony, which took place in front of Puerto Rico's seaside Capitol in San Juan, was overshadowed by widespread anger over a recent massive blackout that hit the U.S. territory days earlier, leaving 1.3 million customers without power. González, a member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, won the gubernatorial election on November 5 with over 526,000 votes, or 41%. The blackout has led to protests and interruptions during the inauguration, highlighting the fragility of the island's power grid. González has promised to address the energy crisis by appointing an energy 'czar' to review potential contractual breaches and work towards stabilizing the grid.