The two parties that have dominated Puerto Rican politics for decades, the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) are losing their influence as the independence fighter Juan Dalmau runs for the alliance of the Puerto Rican Independence Party and the Citizen Victory Movement.

An international Gaither survey this month shows Dalmau approaching NPP and current resident commissioner for Puerto Rico in the US House of Representatives, Jenniffer Gonzalez, and defeated the current governor Pedro Pierluisi in his party’s primary election in June.

Dalmau is a recognized leader and defender of the ideal of independence of Puerto Rico, which after being a Spanish colony in 1898 came under the rule of the USA, a country that is now a Commonwealth.

The Gaither poll shows Dalmau with 29% support compared to González’s 31%, who led with 43% in July. Jesús Manuel Ortiz from the Popular Democratic Party is in third place, followed by Javier Jiménez from the Dignity Project.

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