The Internet Travel Guide "Getting to Know Cuba"

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Politics and State Structure

Cuba is a socialist republic with a president as the head of state. In 1976 the self-government of the Cuban people was introduced. The candidates are not nominated by the communist party or any of the other political parties, but by those citizens who are entitled to vote. The voters choose the candidates from among people they know in their neighbourhoods or at work. Every Cuban who is older than 16 years of age is entitled to nominate someone and to vote. The government recommends that voters agree to the entire list, but it is also possible to elect only certain candidates from the list. Officially, there is no compulsory voting in Cuba, but on election day, representatives of the Comité de Defensa de la Revolución, the committee for the defence of the revolution, go from door to door to convince the citizens to participate in the elections. Those who do not vote may be regarded as anti-revolutionary, which can lead to professional and personal disadvantages.

Graffitto: Cuba libre

On 24 February 1993, more than 90% of the eligible Cubans went to the polls. Fidel and Raul Castro received 90% of the votes but there was also one famous non-communist, an author called Miguel Barnet, who received more than 90% of the votes in his ward. The ballot of 7% of the voters were intentionally spoiled, thus expressing those voters' fundamental opposition to the election. The National Assembly consists of 89 deputies and is therefore the most powerful body within the state structure.

Raul Castro

The deputies of the National Assembly elect 34 members from their own ranks to constitute the Council of State which represents the government. The Council of State is accountable to the National Assembly; the National Assembly reports to the provinces and municipalities, and they in turn are answerable to the individual constituencies. The chairman of the Council of State is both president and chairman of the Council of Ministers and is thus also head of state. Fidel Castro holds these positions and is also the General Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party.



Comité de Defensa de la Revolución

Each block of houses is assigned to a Comité de la Defensa de la Revolución. Besides useful jobs like the supervising of blood donations or guarding children on their way to school, these committees also have the task of controlling people's movements and activities. The women's league, labour unions and youth organisations play a prominent political role in everyday life on Cuba.

Billboard: Patria o muerte

The confusion caused by Glasnost and Perestroika was more economic than political. The Cuban's general discontent concerns all aspects of life, but there is considerable agreement between the party and the people. The fear of the US and thus of the unknown is greater than the fear of repression.