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{{Politics of Cuba}} {{Politics of Cuba}}
{{POV}}<!--see talk, let us try again to negotiate a compromise of neutrality please--> {{POV}}<!--see talk, let us try again to negotiate a compromise of neutrality please-->
Although ] is in form a parliamentary democracy, there has not been an election since 1948 in which opposition candidates were allowed. Elections in 1952 were aborted by a coup staged by ]. Batista was elected President at elections in 1954 which were boycotted by the opposition, and then ruled as a dictator until he was overthrown by ], who established a communist regime. The ] is the only legal party, and no overt opposition to its rule is tolerated. The only ''legal'' way of citizens to oppose the ruling system, is to spoil a ballot or to vote no at a candidate, although few dare to do so for fear of official reprisal. ] is a parliamentary republic. In Cuba, there has not been an election since 1948 in which opposition candidates were allowed. Elections in 1952 were aborted by a coup staged by ]. Batista was elected President at elections in 1954 which were boycotted by the opposition, and then ruled as a dictator until he was overthrown by ], who established a communist regime.


==Electoral system==
Cuba has a national legislature, the ] (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), which has 609 members, replaced every five years through a process of election in which voters in each electoral district are offered only one candidate. This candidate is either a member of, or acceptable to, the Communist Party. The last such elections were held on 19 January 2003. All the 609 candidates who ran uncontested for the National Assembly were elected. Cuba has a national legislature, the ] (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), which has 609 members, replaced every five years through a process of election in which voters in each electoral district are offered only one candidate. This candidate is either a member of, or acceptable to, the Communist Party. The last such elections were held on 19 January 2003. All the 609 candidates who ran uncontested for the National Assembly were elected.
⚫ According to ], the law stipulates that up to 50% of the Deputies must be delegates chosen in each municipality. Parliamentary candidates are otherwise proposed by nominating assemblies which comprise representatives of workers, youth, women, students and farmers as well as members of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution. The final list of candidates, which corresponds to the number of seats to be filled, is drawn up by the National Candidature Commission taking into account criteria such as candidates' popularity, merit, patriotism, ethical values and revolutionary history.''<ref>. </ref> Suffrage is afforded to Cuban citizens resident for two years who are aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence.


==Elections in a socialist society==
⚫ According to ], the law stipulates that up to 50% of the Deputies must be delegates chosen in each municipality. Parliamentary candidates are otherwise proposed by nominating assemblies which comprise representatives of workers, youth, women, students and farmers as well as members of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution. The final list of candidates, which corresponds to the number of seats to be filled, is drawn up by the National Candidature Commission taking into account criteria such as candidates' popularity, merit, patriotism, ethical values and revolutionary history.''<ref>. </ref>
The Cuban elections exist in context of a socialist society and were designed, at least in principle, to be consistent with socialist values. Supporters of the present government consider an alternative form of democracy, where elections are held with secret ballots. In thier view it is possible to protest against the government by voting with spoiled ballots.


==Critique==
Since the electoral system does not allow oppositional candidates, these elections are generally not considered to be free and fair elections, in which voters had a choice of candidates from various political orientation. The majority of Deputies belong to the Communist Party. The remainder are officially independent candidates, however they must be acceptable to the Communist Party and are widely regarded outside Cuba as a device for maintaining a facade of democracy (see ] for a comparable example). Opponents and other observers argue that since the electoral system does not allow oppositional candidates, these elections are generally not considered to be free and fair elections, in which voters had a choice of candidates from various political orientation. The majority of Deputies belong to the ] is the only legal party, and no overt opposition to its rule is tolerated. The remainder are officially independent candidates, however they must be acceptable to the Communist Party and are widely regarded outside Cuba as a device for maintaining a facade of democracy (see ] for a comparable example). The only ''legal'' way of citizens to oppose the ruling system, is to spoil a ballot or to vote no at a candidate, although opponents argue that few dare to do so for fear of official reprisal.

Suffrage is afforded to Cuban citizens resident for two years who are aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence.


==Municipal elections== ==Municipal elections==

Revision as of 10:17, 30 April 2006

Politics of Cuba
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Cuba is a parliamentary republic. In Cuba, there has not been an election since 1948 in which opposition candidates were allowed. Elections in 1952 were aborted by a coup staged by Fulgencio Batista. Batista was elected President at elections in 1954 which were boycotted by the opposition, and then ruled as a dictator until he was overthrown by Fidel Castro, who established a communist regime.

Electoral system

Cuba has a national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), which has 609 members, replaced every five years through a process of election in which voters in each electoral district are offered only one candidate. This candidate is either a member of, or acceptable to, the Communist Party. The last such elections were held on 19 January 2003. All the 609 candidates who ran uncontested for the National Assembly were elected. According to IPU, the law stipulates that up to 50% of the Deputies must be delegates chosen in each municipality. Parliamentary candidates are otherwise proposed by nominating assemblies which comprise representatives of workers, youth, women, students and farmers as well as members of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution. The final list of candidates, which corresponds to the number of seats to be filled, is drawn up by the National Candidature Commission taking into account criteria such as candidates' popularity, merit, patriotism, ethical values and revolutionary history. Suffrage is afforded to Cuban citizens resident for two years who are aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence.

Elections in a socialist society

The Cuban elections exist in context of a socialist society and were designed, at least in principle, to be consistent with socialist values. Supporters of the present government consider an alternative form of democracy, where elections are held with secret ballots. In thier view it is possible to protest against the government by voting with spoiled ballots.

Critique

Opponents and other observers argue that since the electoral system does not allow oppositional candidates, these elections are generally not considered to be free and fair elections, in which voters had a choice of candidates from various political orientation. The majority of Deputies belong to the Communist Party of Cuba is the only legal party, and no overt opposition to its rule is tolerated. The remainder are officially independent candidates, however they must be acceptable to the Communist Party and are widely regarded outside Cuba as a device for maintaining a facade of democracy (see National Front (Czechoslovakia) for a comparable example). The only legal way of citizens to oppose the ruling system, is to spoil a ballot or to vote no at a candidate, although opponents argue that few dare to do so for fear of official reprisal.

Municipal elections

Municipal assemblies are elected every two and a half years. Municipal elections are officially non-partisan, but all candidates must be acceptable to the Communist Party, and no candidate can express overt opposition to the Castro government or to the communist system. The last such elections were held on 17 April, 2005. Turnout was reported to be 95.76%. After a massive campaign to get more people to vote, Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo of Cuba's National Electoral Commission reported that approximately 8.2 million Cubans of the country's population of approximately 11 million had voted.

External links

References

  1. IPU Parline.