People’s Power: The Sovereign Expression of Democracy in Cuba
Cuba’s 169 municipal assemblies convened on Friday

By: Agnerys Rodríguez Gavilan

2007-11-17

Representative government —called Popular Power in Cuba— has to «continue being the authentic expression of the will and interests of the people», said Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, president of the Cuban Parliament, to representatives of the national and foreign press on Friday. He was referring to the constitution of the 169 municipal assemblies of Popular Power across the entire island.

Alarcón evaluated the convening of the assemblies yesterday as being an expression of a sovereign decision of most Cubans, noting that it is a force that is not imposed on the country from abroad.

Alarcón attended the convening of the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power in Havana’s Revolution Square, which took place in the Grand Auditorium of the University of the Havana. Also participating was Carlos Lage Dávila, vice-president of the Council of State; and Rubén Pérez Rodríguez, vice-president of the National Electoral Commission.

The member of the Political Bureau lashed out at those such as George W. Bush and spokespersons of the American system who speak of democracy made in the USA, as they seek to impose their system on the world as if it were dogma. «What they are trying to defend a system that is bankrupt, where the politicians are bought and sold, and the media is an instrument to confuse and deceive people – and to make money,» he added.

When referring to the Cuban system, he recognized that —as all human endeavors— it has its deficiencies and defects, «but what there is absolutely no doubt about is that most Cubans believe in our system, and they express it completely when electing the municipal assemblies of Popular Power.»

According to rules established under the Cuban Electoral Law, this Friday the elected delegates met on own right. Under the direction of the president of the Municipal Electoral Commission, who confirmed the validity of their elections and took their oaths, they also selected a president and vice-president of the assemblies through secret vote. Those officers assumed their positions that same day.

As part of the electoral process in which that the country is immersed, over the upcoming days these local organs will be in charge of the reorganization of Popular Councils and Permanent Work Commissions.

The delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of the Popular Power will fulfill their mandates for a period of two and a half years.