Carmen Yulín Cruz and Eduardo Bhatia in talks for possible positions in the Joe Biden administration

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto and Senator Eduardo Bhatia Gautier have been recommended to be in the new administration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for the position of US Ambassadors to Latin American countries, a source in the capital said. federal.

Cruz Soto confirmed The new day that “this possibility has been explored,” although he added that it is not the only conversation he has had about his political future. He emphasized that there had been no offer from the administration and that it was “an open conversation”.

For his part, Bhatia Gautier said that “there are many serious people who research” public policy views on federal agencies and entities to form the Biden government, but “it is too early to (talk) about it,” because no one is there yet. making official employment offers, except for the highest cabinet positions. “Different people spoke to me because I have many friends in the administration. I didn’t just talk about myself, but recommendations about other people, but what will happen in the next six months? I don’t know and there is nothing concrete“, Commented Bhatia, in a short interview given to this environment.

The popular senator added that he does not foresee that the positions for the Latin American embassies will be occupied in the first year of government.

“There are conversations about the public agenda and the president’s agenda on internal affairs. Everything has been discussed, but there is nothing concrete, “added Bhatia Gautier, who has chaired the 2018 American Parliamentary Confederation.

Regarding the United States’ external relations with Latin America, Cruz Soto stressed that the new Biden and Harris administration has the opportunity to address border issues, such as migration from a humanistic perspective, through educational programs and economic aid. “I was not made an offer, but insofar as I can collaborate in creating these alliances (I will do it)”, added the mayor whose municipality is in the process of governmental transition.

The United States has embassies in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Both Cruz Soto and Bhatia Gautier have developed strong ties to the Democratic Party of the United States. Bhatia Gautier’s relationship dates back to when he led the Federal Affairs Administration of Puerto Rico (PRFAA) from 2005 to 2008 under the administration of Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. Later, as a senator, he maintained relations with the Democratic administration of Barack Obama, especially with the co-chair of the White House Task Force, Tony West, who is today the brother-in-law of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, Mayor Cruz Soto strengthened his ties in the Democratic Party after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, when he gained prominence in the United States national media with his criticism of the Donald Trump administration and its claim that Puerto Ricans were dying. . So much so that Biden’s biggest competitor, Senator Bernie Sanders, named his campaign co-chair along with two other congressmen.

During the PPD mayors, Cruz Soto received the opinion of Sanders, the co-chairs of his campaign – California Congresswoman Ro Khanna and Ohio Senator Nina Turner – the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Raúl Grijalva and the chairman of the National Security Committee, Bennie Thompson. Also, Senator Elizabeth Warren, another former presidential candidate, supported her during the mayors.

In government transitions, people close to the new administration put together a list of qualified candidates for cabinet positions recommended by the president-elect’s political allies or strategic alliances, such as his previous opponents in the presidential candidacy for the Match.

Maricarmen Aponte represented the United States in El Salvador by appointing former President Barack Obama, while Carmen Cantor was named by Donald Trump this year as ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. In total, there were 12 American ambassadors of Puerto Rican origin.

A future in academia

Cruz Soto told the newspaper that in addition to the “open conversation” with the new administration, he received five offers from academic organizations, as well as approaches from human rights and nonprofit organizations dedicated to expanding women’s political participation in the United States. US. At a news conference on Tuesday, the mayor added that he had already accepted a job at a Massachusetts university, from which he preferred to omit his name, write a book and “attract prominent politicians and activists.” .

Similarly, Bhatia Gautier told the newspaper that he was considering developing public policy at the academy at a university in the eastern United States.