List of political parties in Puerto Rico facts for kids
This article is about the political parties in Puerto Rico. Political parties are groups of people who share similar ideas about how the government should work. They work together to elect their members to public office and make decisions for the country.
In Puerto Rico, when you vote, you can choose a political party, a specific person (candidate), or both. For a group to be an official political party and appear on the ballot, it must follow special rules from Puerto Rico's Electoral Law.
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Registered Parties Today
As of 2020, Puerto Rico has five main political parties that are officially registered for elections. Each party has different ideas about what is best for Puerto Rico.
Popular Democratic Party
- Initials: PPD
- Current leader: Jesus Manuel Ortiz
- Main Idea: This party wants Puerto Rico to remain a Commonwealth of the United States. This means they want Puerto Rico to have a special relationship with the U.S., where it is self-governing but still connected to the U.S. They also support ideas like liberalism and social liberalism, which focus on individual rights and social welfare.
- Seats in Senate: 12 out of 27
- Seats in House: 26 out of 51
New Progressive Party
- Initials: PNP
- Current leader: Pedro Pierluisi
- Main Idea: This party wants Puerto Rico to become a state of the United States. They believe that becoming a state would give Puerto Ricans more rights and benefits, like full voting representation in the U.S. Congress.
- Seats in Senate: 10 out of 27
- Seats in House: 21 out of 51
Citizens' Victory Movement
- Initials: MVC
- Current leader: Manuel Natal Albelo
- Main Idea: This party focuses on progressivism, which means they want to make society better by supporting social reforms. They are also strongly against corruption in government and believe in anti-colonialism, which means they want Puerto Rico to have more control over its own future, free from outside influence.
- Seats in Senate: 2 out of 27
- Seats in House: 2 out of 51
Puerto Rican Independence Party
- Initials: PIP
- Current leader: Rubén Berríos
- Main Idea: This party wants Puerto Rico to become a completely independent country. They believe Puerto Rico should govern itself without any ties to the United States. They also support left-wing nationalism and social democracy, which means they care about the nation's identity and social fairness.
- Seats in Senate: 1 out of 27
- Seats in House: 1 out of 51
Project Dignity
- Initials: PD
- Current leader: César Vázquez Muñiz
- Main Idea: This party is based on Christian democratic ideas, which means their policies are often guided by Christian values. They also focus on fighting corruption in government.
- Seats in Senate: 1 out of 27
- Seats in House: 1 out of 51
Past Political Parties
Political parties in Puerto Rico have changed a lot over time. When the United States took control of Puerto Rico in 1898, the existing parties adapted to the new situation. Many parties were formed and then disappeared, reflecting the changing ideas about Puerto Rico's future. For example, some parties wanted Puerto Rico to be independent, others wanted it to be a U.S. state, and some wanted a special self-governing relationship.
Before 1870, there were no official political parties in Puerto Rico. The first parties formed during the time of Spanish rule, focusing on ideas like being loyal to Spain or wanting more self-government for Puerto Rico.
Unregistered Parties
Besides the official parties, there are other political groups in Puerto Rico that are not registered for elections. These groups still work to promote their ideas and influence public opinion. They include:
- Hostosian National Independence Movement (MINH): This group supports independence and nationalist ideas for Puerto Rico.
- Pro ELA: This group wants Puerto Rico to become a freely associated republic, which is a type of independent nation that has a special agreement with another country.
- Puerto Rican Nationalist Party: A historical party that still exists, advocating for independence.
- Communist Party of Puerto Rico: A group that follows communist ideas.
- Socialist Front: This is a group of different socialist organizations working together.
- Socialist Workers Movement: A socialist group that is active in trade unions and student movements.
- United Statehooders: A group that supports Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state.
U.S. National Party Affiliates
Some political parties in Puerto Rico are connected to the big national parties in the United States. These groups participate in U.S. primary elections, which help choose candidates for president. Unlike local Puerto Rican parties, these groups are headquartered in the mainland U.S.
- Democratic Party of Puerto Rico: This is the local branch of the U.S. national Democratic Party.
- Libertarian Party of Puerto Rico: This is the local branch of the U.S. national Libertarian Party.
- Republican Party of Puerto Rico: This is the local branch of the U.S. national Republican Party.
See also
In Spanish: Partidos políticos de Puerto Rico para niños
- Politics of Puerto Rico
- Elections in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rican Independence Movement
Images for kids
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The logo of the New Progressive Party.
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The logo of the Citizens' Victory Movement.
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The logo of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.
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The logo of Project Dignity.
