PUERTO RICO’S former representative to the US Congress Pedro Pierluisi has been selected as the island’s new secretary of state, putting him in line to lead the island after disgraced Governor Ricardo Rossello steps down on Friday.

Mr Rossello officially named Mr Pierluisi as his successor today. But his nomination still needs to be approved by Puerto Rico’s House and Senate which will meet in a special session hours before the governor is set to resign.

Members of Mr Rossello’s New Progressive Party (PNP) have warned that they will vote against the appointment.

Rep Jose Melendez said he would not vote in favour of Mr Pierluisi because he works for a law firm that represents the federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances.

“That’s a serious conflict of interest,” he said.

A 2016 New York Times investigation showed that the wealth of Mr Pierluisi’s family grew immensely during his time as the island’s congressional delegate. 

Just 20 days after the election his wife Maria Elena Carrion set up a financial advisory firm which has been hired by large Wall Street companies.

According to the New York Times, Bills introduced by Mr Pierluisi regarding the island’s debt crisis would have benefited at least two of the companies that hired his wife for financial advice.