The approval of the new Housing Law by Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) provided a revealing moment that encapsulates the workings of the Cuban Parliament better than any speech could: nearly everyone raised their hands, one of the regime's top officials seemed oblivious, yet the result was still declared as "unanimous."
During a televised voting session, cameras caught Army General Álvaro López Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), sitting with his head bowed and not raising his hand, while other deputies around him endorsed the measure.
CiberCuba compared the snippet shared on social media with the full session recording and confirmed it indeed captured the moment when deputies were voting on the Housing Law.
The footage shows no indication of López Miera lifting his hand. It's unclear whether he was asleep, distracted, or merely observing one of those parliamentary rituals where the outcome is known before the counting even begins.
The uncertainty regarding the minister's participation did not disrupt the flawless arithmetic of the ANPP. The law was declared passed unanimously because, in the Cuban Parliament, even hands that do not rise seem to count as supportive votes.
This incident highlights the purely formal nature of voting in an Assembly devoid of political opposition, without debates capable of endangering government initiatives, where dissent is as rare as finding a well-maintained home.
The scene is particularly telling given that the law addresses one of the most severe crises facing the country. Cuba suffers from a housing deficit of hundreds of thousands, with many buildings in disrepair, entire families cramped in small spaces, and collapses being a daily occurrence in various cities.
Perhaps this is why the vote didn’t demand much attention from the FAR minister. Unlike the hundreds of thousands of Cubans who wait years for housing solutions or live with the constant threat of structural collapse, the military has long been one of the regime's favored groups in housing policy.
A quick glance at the official press reveals a long series of inaugurations of buildings and entire neighborhoods for officers and their families in places like Havana, Villa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.
While securing decent housing has become an arduous journey for ordinary citizens, for the military elite—who also manage much of the national economy through the GAESA conglomerate—housing rarely appears to be an issue.
Against this backdrop, the new legislation increases state powers over properties, sets obligations for owners, maintains property limits, and permits claiming abandoned or dilapidated homes. It also enforces mandatory quotas in multifamily buildings and places 15-year restrictions on those receiving subsidized housing.
Yet none of these stipulations seemed to require visible doubts, significant objections, or dissenting votes. The Parliament once again fulfilled its usual role: raising hands, confirming a pre-arranged decision, and presenting the result as a national consensus.
This time, however, official cameras left a small flaw in the performance. While the Assembly proclaimed another perfect unanimity, one of its most powerful members sat motionless, head down, seemingly disconnected from the collective enthusiasm.
In any real parliament, the image could spark questions about vote counting. In the ANPP, merely announcing the result sufficed. Unanimity, it seems, doesn't require everyone to vote; it only requires that no one dares to challenge it.
Understanding the Cuban Housing Law Vote
Why was the Housing Law vote considered unanimous?
The vote was declared unanimous despite some members not visibly voting, reflecting the formal nature of the process where opposition is virtually nonexistent.
What issues does the new Housing Law address?
The law aims to expand state control over properties, establish owner obligations, and address housing shortages by allowing claims on abandoned or decaying properties.
How does the military benefit from housing policies in Cuba?
The military has been a privileged sector, receiving access to new housing projects, contrasting with the general population's struggle for adequate housing.