{"id":6080,"date":"2022-04-04T19:31:29","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T19:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/?p=6080"},"modified":"2022-04-06T09:25:16","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T09:25:16","slug":"cubas-system-of-participatory-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cubas-system-of-participatory-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba\u2019s system of participatory democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained-1024x1024.jpg?resize=512%2C512&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6081\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to the audio clip from Helen Yaffe\u2019s recent discussion of Rev Left Radio with host, Brett O\u2019Shea, about the Cuban political system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Yaffe_02_extract.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike the narrative that is propagated widely from US and counterrevolutionary sources in the western world, Cuba is far from being a dictatorship run by the Communist Party. It has a deeply entrenched democratic system that is far superior to that practiced in many states that boast of their parliamentary democratic systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the western parliamentary electoral system, candidates are free to say whatever they choose in order to get elected. If they\u2019re successful, and manage to get elected, they are under no obligation to honour their promises during their five-year electoral term other than the pressure exerted through the occasional opinion polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cuban system is far different. It is an exercise in deeply embedded participatory democracy. Below is a summary of what this involves from an administrative point of view. In addition to this Cubans workers are involved in decision making within their workplaces which is where the everyday decisions that effect one\u2019s life occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are three pillars to Cuba\u2019s political system, the Communist Party (PCC), the Organs of Political Power (OPP) and the Mass organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Communist Party (PCC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The modern PCC was established after Cuba\u2019s progressive forces united together in 1965, six years after the revolution. It has a large widespread membership that encompasses one in six Cuban citizens. Membership applicantions need to be approved by the local branches and each new member is subject to a one-year probation period before full membership is granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is important to note that the PCC cannot stand candidates in elections. Candidates are selected directly by their respective communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Organs of Political Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;The 1976 Constitution established a system of 168 Municipal Assemblies, 14 Provincial Assemblies and one National Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Municipal Assemblies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Local activists are nominated by neighbours to stand as candidates for the delegate elections. Successful candidates are then elected by secret ballot on election day to decide who will be the local ward\u2019s delegate and represent then in the Municipal Assembly. A candidate must receive 50% plus one of the votes, or failing that, a run-off election is held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elected delegate holds office for a period of 30 months. They have to report back to their ward as least every six months to give an account of their work and to listen to local concerns. If they aren\u2019t preforming satisfactorily, they can be recalled, removed from office and a replacement elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delegates receive no wage for this demanding work. They have to remain in their normal occupation and serve the community in their spare time. In 2018, a total of 12,515 delegates were elected to the 168 Municipal Assemblies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Popular Councils<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Popular Councils are representative bodies formed by collectives of ten to fifteen wards and local mass organisations such as health workers, women\u2019s groups and disadvantaged communities. These work together to elect representatives to sit alongside the Municipal Delegate within the Provincial Assembles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Provincial Assemblies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of Cuba\u2019s sixteen provinces has it\u2019s own Provincial Assembly to oversee administration and the management of the state-owned enterprises within its own province. They are made up of Municipal Delegates, who gain 50% of seats with the remaining 50% made up from representatives from the Popular Councils, mass organisations and student bodies. Again, no wages are earned for this representative work, it is all done on a voluntary basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>National Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the sole legislative body in Cuba with deputies nominated from the Municipal Assemblies and with the remainder coming from the other mass organisations, in a similar way to the Provincial Assemblies. Elections to both bodies are held at the same time every five years. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, 612 deputies were elected to the National Assembly. 284 or 46% were elected from the Municipal Assemblies. Women made up 49% of deputies and 37% were people of colour. Members of the PCC made up 45% of deputies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The authority of the National Assembly is exercised through the 32-member Council of Ministers, the Council of State and the Work Commissions. The President of the Cuban Republic is elected by the deputies of the National Assembly as are the Council of State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mass Organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cuba\u2019s principal mass organisations are the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution, (CDR), the Cuban Women\u2019s Federation (FMC), the trade unions &#8211; Cuba Workers Federation (CTC), and the Association of Small Farmers (ANAP). All are involved in organising meetings for mass policy debate, implementing new legislation and evaluating policy outcomes. Almost everyone in Cuba belongs to one or more of these organisations, and all have grassroots, local branches and higher structures at the Municipal, Provincial and National levels. They are the means by which Cubans can engage, and participate, in the political life of the country. All mass organisations have the right to initiate and be consulted on new legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Special credit to Lauren Collins of Nottingham\u2019s Centre for Research on Cuba for the above information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to the audio clip from Helen Yaffe\u2019s recent discussion of Rev Left Radio with host, Brett O\u2019Shea, about the Cuban political system. Unlike the<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cubas-system-of-participatory-democracy\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","category-featured"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5186,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/digital-war-on-cuba-and-the-events-of-the-11th-of-july-explained\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":0},"title":"Digital War on Cuba and the events of the 11th of July explained","author":"Editorial Team","date":"September 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Digital war on Cuba and the events of the 11th of July explained.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Digital-War-On-Cuba.png?fit=1200%2C396&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Digital-War-On-Cuba.png?fit=1200%2C396&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Digital-War-On-Cuba.png?fit=1200%2C396&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Digital-War-On-Cuba.png?fit=1200%2C396&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Digital-War-On-Cuba.png?fit=1200%2C396&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8272,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/peoples-movements-in-the-us-demand-end-to-blockade-against-cuba\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":1},"title":"People&#8217;s movements in the US demand end to blockade against Cuba","author":"Editorial Team","date":"September 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On Friday, September 22, dozens of citizens belonging to different people's movements marched in New York City demanding an end to the US imposed blockade against Cuba. They also demanded that president Joe Biden take Cuba off the state sponsors of terrorism list, stating that it is not Cuba which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-21.11.45.png?fit=744%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-21.11.45.png?fit=744%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-21.11.45.png?fit=744%2C375&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-21.11.45.png?fit=744%2C375&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1137,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/helen-yaffe-talks-on-rt-about-how-cuba-is-on-the-worlds-front-lines-against-the-coronavirus-why-the-united-states-and-western-powers-view-cuba-as-a-threat-and-more\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":2},"title":"Helen Yaffe talks on RT  about how Cuba is on the World&#8217;s front lines against the coronavirus, why the United States and Western powers view Cuba as a  threat and more!","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Dr Helen Yaffe, author of 'We Are Cuba! How a Revolutionary People Have Survived in a Post-Soviet World.' She discusses Cuba's international medical effort against coronavirus, from sending doctors to many countries abroad, to its drugs for Covid-19 treatment and vaccine development, the history of Cuba's 'Army of White Coats'\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/RT-Helen-Yaffe.jpg?fit=828%2C379&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/RT-Helen-Yaffe.jpg?fit=828%2C379&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/RT-Helen-Yaffe.jpg?fit=828%2C379&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/RT-Helen-Yaffe.jpg?fit=828%2C379&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8038,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-absurdity-of-listing-cuba-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":3},"title":"The Absurdity of Listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Trump placed Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Now the State Dept has reasserted the designation in February. Calla Walsh, the co-chair of the National Network on Cuba, explains its immense impact on the blockade on Cuba and how the US uses the \u201cterrorist\u201d designation politically.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-03-29-at-23.39.58.png?fit=721%2C361&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-03-29-at-23.39.58.png?fit=721%2C361&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-03-29-at-23.39.58.png?fit=721%2C361&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-03-29-at-23.39.58.png?fit=721%2C361&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3728,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/europa-por-cuba\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":4},"title":"EUROPA POR CUBA","author":"Editorial Team","date":"February 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba Support Group Ireland where delighted to participate in Europa Por Cuba yesterday the 14th of February, change to your walk into a cause, join us in Walking For Cuba against the US blockade.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-15-at-23.29.03.png?fit=651%2C311&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-15-at-23.29.03.png?fit=651%2C311&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-15-at-23.29.03.png?fit=651%2C311&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8186,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/let-cuba-live\/","url_meta":{"origin":6080,"position":5},"title":"LET CUBA LIVE","author":"Editorial Team","date":"August 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba Support Group Irealand joins the hundreds of organizations and individuals around the world working on a new campaign to collect 1 million signatures demanding the US: Take Cuba off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and end the blockade of Cuba! Sign the petition\u00a0here\u00a0and pass it on to all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2023-08-13-at-18.04.45.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3xdTY-1A4","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cubas-Democracy-explained.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}