New Progressive Party

The Puerto Rican New Progressive Party (Partido Nuevo Progresista, PNP) is a political party in Puerto Rico that advocates for the island to become a state of the United States. Founded in 1967, the party emerged from a desire to address the political status…   of Puerto Rico, which has been a territory of the United States since 1898. The PNP's core value is the belief that statehood would provide Puerto Ricans with the full rights and benefits of citizenship, including representation in Congress and the right to vote in presidential elections, which they currently do not have.<br /><br />The New Progressive Party positions itself as center-right on the political spectrum, promoting economic development, education reform, and a strong relationship with the United States. It supports free market principles and encourages private sector growth as a means to improve the island's economy. The party also emphasizes the importance of maintaining and enhancing Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, viewing statehood as the culmination of the island's political evolution and a path to equality for its citizens.<br /><br />Over the years, the PNP has been a dominant force in Puerto Rican politics, with its candidates winning several gubernatorial elections and representing Puerto Rico in the U.S. Congress as Resident Commissioners. The party's stance on statehood has been a central issue in Puerto Rican politics, leading to several non-binding referendums on the island's political status. Despite the complexity of the statehood debate and differing opinions among Puerto Ricans, the New Progressive Party continues to advocate for Puerto Rico's admission as the 51st state of the United States, arguing that it would resolve the island's colonial status and bring economic and social benefits to its citizens.Read more