HAVANA, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba said that congress, which eventually elects the president, would be decided on March 26, 2023, after an unusual voting process in the one-party state where opposition parties are illegal.
In a brief statement, the state council summoned voters “to national elections,” even though Cubans will not elect their lawmakers directly.
Cuba’s election process began Sunday with municipal elections to elect 12,400 councilors, some of which have gone to a run-off that will take place on Dec 4.
These councilors will choose 50 percent of the candidates for the national assembly, which currently has 605 seats, however this number is expected to decrease.
The other half are nominated by a commission of representatives of the country’s main social organizations, all linked to the ruling Communist Party, which does not make nominations, but verifies the elections.
Cubans then go to the ballot box to ratify the nominations, which usually all go through.
The national assembly is expected to elect a president by mid-2023.
The constitution allows President Miguel Diaz-Canel, in power since 2018, to be re-elected for another five years. — NNN-AGENCIES
