Platform of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP)

On October 15, 1998, the Governing Board of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) approved the party’s platform, entitled “Development of the Commonwealth.”

The document describes Puerto Rico as “neither colonial or territorial” but also “in permanent union with the United States” through an agreement “that cannot be invalidated or altered unilaterally.” U.S. citizenship rights are protected.

The U.S. Constitution covers only one relationship that meets all of these criteria: statehood.

The PDP platform also described a relationship in which Puerto Rico can cherry pick which U.S. Federal laws apply in its borders and Puerto Rico can enter into international agreements separately from the U.S.

This is sovereign independence.

The platform’s mix of statehood and independence represents an impossible arrangement, one that U.S. Senators have called the “free beer and barbeque option” and former Rep. Jose Serrano labeled “a letter to the Three Kings or a letter to Santa Claus.”

The PDP platform further dictates that:

• A “common market will continue to exist between Puerto Rico and the United States” but separately “[t]he Commonwealth will be able to enter into commercial and tax agreements, among others, with other countries, and belong to regional and international entities[.]”
• People born in Puerto Rico are both Puerto Rican citizens and permanent citizens of the United States by birth.  U.S. citizenship “will continue to be protected by the Constitution of the United States and by this Covenant and will not be unilaterally revocable.”
• U.S. courts retain jurisdiction in Puerto Rico, but only over Federal laws “not in violation with the laws of the Constitution of Puerto Rico[.]” In essence, the Puerto Rico legislature determines which U.S. laws Puerto Rico will follow.
• The U.S. will maintain authority and responsibility over defense matters in Puerto Rico.
• Federal programs providing social and educational assistance directly to Puerto Rico’s residents, such as the Nutritional Assistance Program, Pell Grants and educational loans, among others, will continue as will programs for veterans, Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance benefits.
• Puerto Rico will receive an annual block grant adjusted for inflation for social assistance, infrastructure needs, job creation and to promote Puerto Rico’s economic development generally.
• The U.S. will transfer all of the lands it owns to Puerto Rico unless used for common defense or otherwise deemed necessary.

The Meaning of “Commonwealth”

The PDP platform has not been renewed to the same level of detail since 1998, and in 2012 Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia published an article entitled “The new agenda of status of the PDP,” that reaffirms the platform’s overall concept of creating a new arrangement that mixes elements of statehood and sovereignty:

“The PDP reaffirms that the Commonwealth is the option of status that best represents the aspirations of the People of Puerto Rico.  Well-governed by those who recognize its potential, the Commonwealth offers the greatest opportunities for progress and development for every Puerto Rican, compared to statehood or any other form of independence.

The PDP strongly supports the development of the Commonwealth to the highest of autonomy compatible with the principles of permanent union with the United States and American citizenship of Puerto Ricans.  The Popular Party rejects any modification of status that deviates from these principles and that threatens our Puerto Rican nationality or that harms our linguistic or cultural identity.

The PDP reaffirms the validity of the Commonwealth as an autonomous political body, founded on a pact of union established in 1952, based on the exercise of sovereignty of the people of Puerto Rico, which is not nor should be subject to the plenary powers of the United States Congress.  We recognize, however, that there are differences of opinions among the people of Puerto Rico about our political relationship with the United States.

Let’s respect the ideological aspirations of the members of other parties that prefer statehood or independence.  Also, we recognize the right of the people to decide the status of their choice without undue or improper manipulation of the process.  Therefore, we reaffirm that the whole process of status has to be truly democratic and based on the principals of fairness and fair treatment.”

Updated February 22, 2026