This Sunday, February 24, the New Cuban Legislature Select New President
- Submitted by: admin
- Destinations
- Events
- Havana
- History
- Society
- Personalities
- Politics and Government
- 02 / 22 / 2008
Barely 72 hours separate us from one of the most crucial moments for the Cuban people. This Sunday, February 24, the nations 614 recently elected deputies will take office and officially constitute the new legislature of the National Assembly of Popular Power.
With that step, Cuba will conclude the general elections process that its citizens began participating in starting in July 2007, as they traveled along new roads to democracy, the Revolution, the nation, socialism, independence and sovereignty.
The formation of the new legislature, whose mandate is for five years, is not the only moral, legal and historic responsibility that will fall on the highest body of state power; their members will also be responsible for choosing the leadership of the assembly as well as the Council of State.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and the Electoral Law, the deputies have the duty of carrying out their work for the benefit of the people. These tasks include maintaining contact with their electors; listening to their positions, suggestions and criticisms; and explaining to voters the policy of the state. In addition, the legislators will make public accounts of their work, also in accordance with established law.
Among other powers, the National Assembly of the Popular Power must discuss and approve national plans for economic and social development; discuss and approve the state budget; approve the principles of the system of planning and guidance of the national economy; agree to the monetary and credit system, and approve the general limits of the foreign and domestic policy.
No less important are the responsibilities of declaring a state of war in the event of military aggression and approving peace treaties; establishing and modifying the political-administrative division of the country; exercising the highest inspection of bodies of the state and government, and to designate the president of the Council of State, the first vice president, the vice presidents and other members of the Council of Secretaries.
On February 24, once the election certificates of each one of the deputies are examined and validated, the National Assembly will be officially constituted. At that point, all of their members will be able to choose from among themselves the president, vice president and secretary of that body, by virtue of proposals that are presented by the National Commission of Candidacies.
Also elected from among the deputies "based on the proposal presented by the National Commission of Candidacies" is the Council of State. This body is made up of a president, a first vice president, five (5) vice presidents, a secretary and 23 additional members. The president of the Council of State is the head of state and head of government.
The deputies will make their selections through a direct and secret ballot for their fellow members that they consider capable to fulfill those positions, with those elected having to obtain more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast.
Prior to these two important votes, the National Commission of Candidacies "made up of representatives of workers, grassroots and mass organizations carry out necessary consultations at all the levels, including meetings with the deputies, to shape a high-quality candidacy slate. This commission is made up of the leadership of the Cuban Confederation of Workers (CTC), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), the Secondary School Students Federation (FEEM), the National Association of Small Agricultural Producers (ANAP), and the Federation of University Students (FEU).
The 614 deputies elected this past January 20 are representative of the work of the Revolution in all the sectors, territories and generations. They are people with talent, solid revolutionary convictions, high levels of training and proven human qualities.
This is confirmed by the fact that more than 28 percent are laborers, small farmers and workers linked to services, education and health; and that there is a greater female presence, with 265 women delegates (43 percent) coming into the new Assembly (7.16 percent more than on the preceding body). Likewise, 35.67 percent of the delegates are black or mixed.
The average of age of the incoming parliament is 49, with more than 56 percent of the delegates having been born after the victory of the Revolution. In terms of tenure, 385 deputies (63 percent) are freshmen delegates, while 224 representatives (37 percent) were re-elected.
(www.juvetudrebelde.co.cu)
With that step, Cuba will conclude the general elections process that its citizens began participating in starting in July 2007, as they traveled along new roads to democracy, the Revolution, the nation, socialism, independence and sovereignty.
The formation of the new legislature, whose mandate is for five years, is not the only moral, legal and historic responsibility that will fall on the highest body of state power; their members will also be responsible for choosing the leadership of the assembly as well as the Council of State.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and the Electoral Law, the deputies have the duty of carrying out their work for the benefit of the people. These tasks include maintaining contact with their electors; listening to their positions, suggestions and criticisms; and explaining to voters the policy of the state. In addition, the legislators will make public accounts of their work, also in accordance with established law.
Among other powers, the National Assembly of the Popular Power must discuss and approve national plans for economic and social development; discuss and approve the state budget; approve the principles of the system of planning and guidance of the national economy; agree to the monetary and credit system, and approve the general limits of the foreign and domestic policy.
No less important are the responsibilities of declaring a state of war in the event of military aggression and approving peace treaties; establishing and modifying the political-administrative division of the country; exercising the highest inspection of bodies of the state and government, and to designate the president of the Council of State, the first vice president, the vice presidents and other members of the Council of Secretaries.
On February 24, once the election certificates of each one of the deputies are examined and validated, the National Assembly will be officially constituted. At that point, all of their members will be able to choose from among themselves the president, vice president and secretary of that body, by virtue of proposals that are presented by the National Commission of Candidacies.
Also elected from among the deputies "based on the proposal presented by the National Commission of Candidacies" is the Council of State. This body is made up of a president, a first vice president, five (5) vice presidents, a secretary and 23 additional members. The president of the Council of State is the head of state and head of government.
The deputies will make their selections through a direct and secret ballot for their fellow members that they consider capable to fulfill those positions, with those elected having to obtain more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast.
Prior to these two important votes, the National Commission of Candidacies "made up of representatives of workers, grassroots and mass organizations carry out necessary consultations at all the levels, including meetings with the deputies, to shape a high-quality candidacy slate. This commission is made up of the leadership of the Cuban Confederation of Workers (CTC), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), the Secondary School Students Federation (FEEM), the National Association of Small Agricultural Producers (ANAP), and the Federation of University Students (FEU).
The 614 deputies elected this past January 20 are representative of the work of the Revolution in all the sectors, territories and generations. They are people with talent, solid revolutionary convictions, high levels of training and proven human qualities.
This is confirmed by the fact that more than 28 percent are laborers, small farmers and workers linked to services, education and health; and that there is a greater female presence, with 265 women delegates (43 percent) coming into the new Assembly (7.16 percent more than on the preceding body). Likewise, 35.67 percent of the delegates are black or mixed.
The average of age of the incoming parliament is 49, with more than 56 percent of the delegates having been born after the victory of the Revolution. In terms of tenure, 385 deputies (63 percent) are freshmen delegates, while 224 representatives (37 percent) were re-elected.
(www.juvetudrebelde.co.cu)
Comments