Florida governor assumes control of Disney World district to punish the company

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Monday giving him control over the Walt Disney World Home Rule District, punishing the company for opposing the Don’t Say Gay law.

Under the law, Republican DeSantis must appoint a five-member commission to oversee public services in the district of Florida, where Disney operates a large number of theme parties.

“Today the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis declared at the signing ceremony in Lake Buena Vista. “There is a new sheriff in charge and accountability will be the order of the day.”

The signing of the law comes as DeSantis reportedly prepares to announce his presidential candidacy, and is a high-profile legislative triumph for a governor whose struggles over cultural and political issues have made him a prominent leader among Republican politicians. .

DeSantis, whose book “The Courage to be Free” comes out Tuesday, has tried to raise his public profile and raise funds through fundraisers and meetings with donors, elected officials and right-wing personalities. .

The takeover of the district began last year when Disney opposed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prohibits talking about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade, or teaching lessons deemed inappropriate.

DeSantis quickly sought to punish the company, ordering members of the Republican-dominated legislature to dissolve the Disney Autonomous District in a special legislative session last year, launching a closely watched restructuring process.

In February, DeSantis called on lawmakers to deal again with Disney and entrench state control of the district in another hastily called legislative session that demonstrated the governor’s willingness to use his power to further political goals, a strategy likely to continue for months to come. while DeSantis potentially boosts a presidential campaign.

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