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Cuba holds elections for 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 in nominate one candidate per district. This candidate is required by the Cuban Constitution to be loyal to Communist values. The last such elections were held on 19 January 2003. All the 609 candidates nominated for the National Assembly were elected uncontested, as has been the case in every election since Castro took power.
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.
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 it to be an alternative form of "democracy," where elections are held with secret ballots. In their view it is possible to protest against the government by voting with spoiled ballots.
Critique
Cuba calls itself a parliamentary republic, but is viewed by many as a totalitarian state controlled by Fidel Castro, who is chief of state, head of government, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba ("PCC"), and commander in chief of the armed forces. In March 2003, Castro announced his intention to remain in power for life. Succession after Castro's death has already been determined by Castro to fall to the first vice president, a position presently held by his brother Raul Castro.
In Cuba, there has not been an election in which opposition candidates were allowed since 1948. 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.
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 Communist Party of Cuba is the only legal party.
The Cuban people are unable to exercise fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to association. Furthermore, no organizations or activities outside those controlled by the Cuban government are allowed. While some National Assembly members are officially independent candidates, 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.
Campaigning is prohibited, and the main criterion for electibility is commitment to the Revolution under the direction of the PCC and the leadership of Fidel Castro. Dissidents, regime opponents, and even mild critics of the regime are systematically shut out of the nominating process. 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.
In any event, the National Assembly meets only twice a year for a few days each time; the 31-member Council of State, appointed by Castro, wields power. Although the Assembly has eight standing committees, they do not exercise any effective authority to publicly debate or modify bills. During its biannual plenums, the Assembly plays a passive role as audience for various government speakers. Once the Council of State's legislative proposals have been presented, they are summarily ratified by unanimous or near unanimous vote of the general chamber.
For example, the constitution hypothetically allows legislative proposals backed by at least 10,000 citizens to be submitted directly to the National Assembly, in 2002 the government rejected a petition known as the Varela Project, supporters of which submitted 11,000 signatures calling for a national referendum on political and economic reforms. In response, the government arrested dozens of activists in March 2003 for participating in the Varela Project, saying that they accepted illegal funding from the head of the United States special interest section in Havana. In October 2003, Project Varela organizers submitted a second petition to the National Assembly with an additional 14,000 signatures. The government has not accepted this petition either.
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
- Guide to Cuba's Political and Electoral System
- "Cuba says nearly 97 per cent voted in local elections"
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- Background Note: Cuba
- Cubafacts.com