Consultation on New Cuban Constitution Enters Last Week

Some of the 15 provinces of the island already reported the closure of a process starting on August 13, with more than 110,000 meetings held in communities, workplaces and schools, in which more than 7,300,000 people participated.

The central territories of Ciego de Avila and Sancti Spiritus are among those that completed the consultation on the text composed of 224 articles (87 more than the current Constitution, in force since 1976).

Issues such as change in the structure of the State and marriage, the recognition of private property, the expansion of rights and the strengthening of people’s power in the base continue generating comments in Cuba.

As an unprecedented element, the process of analysis of the Draft Constitution approved by the National Assembly on July 22, the same day that the consultation was convened, Cuban residents abroad participated in the debates on the new Draft Constitution, through a section enabled on the website http://www.nacionyemigracion.cu, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to explanations of the members of the parliamentary committee drafting the text, including Council of State Secretary Homero Acosta, and legislator Yumil Rodriguez, all criteria issued by the population are considered, thanks to the created mechanism.

To guarantee the flow of opinions, an information processing team and an analysis group were activated, the latter in charge of sending to the drafting committee the proposals that could enrich the Constitution, which will be submitted to a referendum, which could take place early 2019. (Taken from Prensa Latina)