In an extraordinary session, the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in the Venezuela municipality of Ciego de Ávila province decided to remove Intendant Rafael A. Ramírez Acosta due to a series of errors and irregularities in his official duties, as reported by the newspaper Invasor on Thursday.
The local body cited three specific issues that led to the decision: shortcomings in the formation and operation of the municipal commission for Food Sovereignty, which oversees the region's supply policies; flaws in the process of establishing the El Fortín Credit and Services Cooperative; and irregularities concerning changes to the social purpose of this entity.
Delegates asserted that these deficiencies "undermine transparency and the proper management of public resources."
The assembly emphasized that its actions were supported by Law No. 132, which governs the organization and functioning of Municipal Assemblies of People's Power and Popular Councils. This law positions the assembly as the highest authority in the municipality, granting it the power to evaluate and replace the intendant.
Yuniel Eugenio Ramírez Tamayo, the former municipal vice-intendant, has been appointed as the temporary replacement, according to the source.
One Cuban commented on the Invasor's Facebook page, "This is the state of the majority; do a thorough analysis, and it seems we'll be without an intendant across the country." Another remarked more bluntly, "Let the replacements continue, because deficiencies and irregularities are what's most abundant throughout the province."
Earlier this week, two other Cuban officials stepped down. Camagüey's governor, Jorge Enrique Sutil Sarabia, resigned on Monday after admitting to "errors incompatible with his responsibilities." The following day, Díaz-Canel also accepted the resignation of Las Tunas governor, Yelenys Tornet Menéndez, who cited "family and personal limitations."
Unlike these provincial resignations, where official statements have been deliberately vague, the Venezuela Assembly publicly outlined the three specific charges leading to Ramírez Acosta's dismissal, marking a rare instance of transparency within Cuba's typically opaque institutional framework.
Understanding the Recent Changes in Cuban Leadership
What prompted the removal of Rafael A. Ramírez Acosta?
Rafael A. Ramírez Acosta was removed due to errors and irregularities in his role, including issues with the municipal commission for Food Sovereignty, the establishment of a cooperative, and changes to an entity's social purpose.
Who is the temporary replacement for the intendant position?
Yuniel Eugenio Ramírez Tamayo, the previous municipal vice-intendant, has been appointed as the temporary replacement.
How does this case of dismissal differ from other recent leadership changes in Cuba?
This case is distinctive for its transparency, as the Assembly of Venezuela publicly detailed the charges against Ramírez Acosta, unlike the vague statements usual in other provincial leadership changes.