Puerto Rican Unrest seeks to Cut Ties with US and Rejoin Spain

A.J. Pike

San Juan - There is a growing movement in Puerto Rico to break away from the United States and rejoin Spain, more than a century after it parted ways with the European country. 

There are currently several proposals spearheaded by a movement called Adelante Reunificacionistas, that may sound fringe at first, but its message is gaining quite a bit of  traction in the hinterlands of Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Rico fell under U.S. sovereignty in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, transitioning from Spanish rule established by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who christened it San Juan Bautista under a Royal decree.  

Despite the change in governance, Spanish has steadfastly remained the lingua franca of Puerto Rico, spoken by over 95% of residents and serving as the mainstay language for everyday interactions, education and commerce.  

After more than 120 years under U.S. rule, approximately 13% of the populace are saying - enough is enough. It’s time to go back - not to independence, not to U.S. Statehood, but to Spain.  That number could amount to hundreds of thousands of people on an island with 3.2 million population. In a region with deeply divided views on its political future, the argument isn’t just political, it’s cultural, historical and economic. 

“Puerto Rico never wanted to break away from Spain,” says Jose Lara, the movement’s leader. “We had autonomy. We had progress. Then came the U.S. invasion, and everything changed.”

Mr. Lara paints a picture of a Puerto Rico that’s been in limbo ever since. Under U.S. rule, the island is classified as a Commonwealth. It has a flag, a Governor, and a non=-voting representative in Congress. But Puerto Ricans, like residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, can’t vote for the  U.S. President, and many key decisions that affect the island are made in Washington. Without the power to vote for the highest office in the land Puerto Rico is left out in the cold when it comes to their share of the American pie.

Critics might dismiss the campaign as romantic or unrealistic, but its supporters insist it’s grounded in facts. Spanish remains the island’s primary language - culturally and institutionally. Catholic traditions, Iberian surnames, and Spanish style town plazas remain embedded in Puerto Rican culture. Many believe that Spain - not the U.S. - represents a more natural fit for the island’s identity and future. 

There’s also the issue of services. Supporters argue that under Spanish rule, Puerto Rico would enjoy universal healthcare, EU investment, and social protections it currently lacks. 

Lara and his team have already taken the idea to the United Nations’ Decolonisation Committee, calling for a referendum supported by Spain, the U.S., and Puerto Rican voters. 

“People think it’s a joke until they hear the details,” says Luis Mulio, head of Accion Puerto Rico Espana, a partner organization based in Madrid. “We’re not chasing a fantasy. We’re chasing justice and reclaiming what was taken.” 

The road ahead is anything but easy. U.S. law currently blocks the formation of a political party centered on reunification. The movement also claims it faces media blackouts and struggles to get airtime in local outlets.

Yet, the fact of the matter is, there is nothing that the U.S. Congress cannot do when it comes to Puerto Rico, whether it be unilaterally granting independence, statehood, independence with a Free Association, selling, or giving away the beautiful island of Puerto Rico to another country.

To get around that, they’ve gone grassroots: schools, cultural events, and university panels. They’re focused on educating the public about Puerto Rico’s Spanish past and on breaking what they call the myths surrounding U.S. Colonization. 

Even if the idea never reaches a vote, it has started a larger conversation. In an era where political realignment is occurring across the globe, Puerto Rico’s push to rejoin Spain is no longer unthinkable. It may be a wild dream to many, but it is apparently a sweet dream to others.