The Cuban Council of State has decided to relieve Vilma Zamora Hernández from her duties as the head of the Provincial Electoral Council of Artemisa, appointing Juan Permuy Felipa as her successor. This decision, outlined in Agreement 625-X, was issued on July 22 and published this Friday in the Official Gazette No. 68 Ordinary of 2026.
Signed by Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, the president of both the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State, the document spans pages two and three of this edition of the Official Gazette.
Change in Leadership Announced
The first article of the agreement cites Zamora's departure from the position as part of a "renewal" process, while the second article appoints Permuy as the new president of the regional electoral body.
This proposal for leadership change was introduced by Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez, the president of the National Electoral Council, under the authority of article 37, paragraph b) of the 2019 Electoral Law, also known as Law 127.
Constitutional and Legal Basis
The Council of State based its decision on article 122, paragraph k) of the Republic's Constitution, which grants it the power to appoint and dismiss presidents of Provincial Electoral Councils. Additionally, the decision referenced article 44.2 of the 2019 Electoral Law and the Organic Regulations of the National Electoral Council, sanctioned by the Council of State's Agreement 28 in February 2020.
This replacement is part of a previously employed renewal mechanism by Cuban authorities. In 2025, leadership changes were similarly made to the Provincial Electoral Councils of Holguín, Cienfuegos, and Villa Clara, as documented in the Official Gazette.
Communication and Additional Agreements
The agreement mandates that the decision be communicated to the president of the National Electoral Council, the parties involved, and relevant individuals and entities.
In addition to this leadership shift, the Official Gazette No. 68 Ordinary of 2026 features two other Council of State agreements. Agreement 626-X denounces a report by the United States Department of State concerning Cuban influence abroad, while Agreement 627-X pertains to the accreditation of an ambassador to Kyrgyzstan.
The leadership change in Artemisa follows the Cuban regime's postponement of municipal delegate elections, initially planned for the upcoming November. This decision involved repealing Law 183 and rescheduling the general electoral process to 2027, in accordance with the constitutional five-year mandate.
Frequently Asked Questions about Artemisa's Electoral Council Leadership Change
Who was appointed as the new president of the Artemisa Provincial Electoral Council?
Juan Permuy Felipa was appointed as the new president of the Artemisa Provincial Electoral Council.
What legal grounds were cited for this leadership change?
The decision was based on article 122, paragraph k) of the Constitution, article 44.2 of the 2019 Electoral Law, and the Organic Regulations of the National Electoral Council.