Puerto Rico's political duopoly is frustrating voters

Significance

The local power company has blamed transmission line failures and says most customers have been reconnected. However, the outage has underscored the fragility of the island’s infrastructure and will increase voter frustration with its ineffectual two-party system.

Impacts

• Despite the recent mild economic upswing, sustained recovery from a dismal decade remains elusive and continued federal support is crucial.
• Energy infrastructure, badly damaged by hurricanes in recent years, faces another severe hurricane season between now and November.
• The island’s traditional two-party system has been discredited by further corruption allegations and protest movements are regrouping.