Laritza Diversent, Translator: Claudia D.
The Communist Party of Cuba works arduously to realize a full identity
between its members and those of the government, and to guarantee that
its politics are approved unanimously in the National Assembly, the body
that represents and expresses the will of more than 11 million Cubans.
The sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba was the beginning of
the preparations, of the partisan organization, for the next general
elections. The goal is to renew state bodies for the new term of office
that begins in 2013.
The Communist Party of Cuba is the only political organization that is
recognized as legal within the Cuban system. The Constitution of 1976
recognizes it as "the superior ruling force of Cuban society and of the
Government" and even though it does not participate in the elections,
its leaders need to also be candidates for national deputies, which will
later make up the state bodies.
During the closure of the partisan congress, last April, a National
Conference was announced for the next January 28, months before the
beginning of preparations for the electoral process.
One of the top subjects the Communists will touch on in their meeting
is, "…the policy of party leaders as political leaders as well as in
institutions and organizations". Something very convenient for National
Deputies' candidacy projects, who prepare and present representatives of
social and mass organizations*.
In view of the holding of this meeting, between May 20 and July 13, the
Assemblies for Balance of the Party* at that level, were carried out in
the 15 provinces. These meetings are still in progress in the 169
municipalities of the country.
The debate process is now inverted, from top to bottom and with only one
explanation. In 2012 the electoral process must be executed. First will
come the elections for delegates who make up the Municipal Assemblies,
and once these are established, those for Provincial Delegates and later
those for National Deputies who make up the government bodies.
The deputy candidates are presented for nomination at the Municipal
Assemblies by the Candidacy Committees from different levels. Then they
are nominated by the recently established Municipal assemblies and
elected by citizens.
The candidacy Committees are made up of representatives from the Center
for Workers of Cuba (CTC), the Committees for the Defense of the
Revolution (CDR), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the National
Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), the University Student Federation
(FEU) and from the Secondary Education Student Federation (FEEM).
However, several of the maximum leaders of these organizations, aside
from being deputies and members of the State Council, are also members
of the Communist Party of Cuba. Salvador Valdés Mesa, secretary general
of the CTC, is a member of the Political Bureau. Yolanda Ferrer Gómez,
secretary general of the FMC, and Orlando Lugo Fonte, President of the
ANAP, are both part of the Central Committee.
At this time, 20 of the 31 members of the State Council are on the
Central Committee of the Communist Party, and 72% of the party members,
are deputies. There is no doubt the level of coincidence will increase
with the next Parliamentary mandate, as the highest expression of the
one party system, the concentration of power, characteristic of the
socialist democracy.
*Translator's note:
Party Assemblies at the level of each province, whose subject was the
debate and evaluation of common practices and policies, with the goal of
improving these.
Translated by: Claudia D.
August 15 2011
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