Cubans vote for new parliament - Democratic Underground

AlphaCentauri

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Sun Jan-20-08 02:18 PM
Original message

Cubans vote for new parliament

Source: BBC

Cubans have begun voting to elect a new National Assembly or parliament.

Only one person is standing per seat, including ailing leader Fidel Castro, even though he has not been seen in public for almost a year-and-a-half.

His brother, acting leader Raul Castro, said the new chamber would meet on 24 February, when it is expected to decide whether Fidel will remain president.

There are 614 candidates contesting 614 seats. Campaigning is not allowed, but a turnout of about 90% is expected.

The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says it is a low-key affair in this one-party state.

But with an ageing leadership, Cuba's Communist Party has encouraged younger people to become involved.

Almost two-thirds of the candidates are standing for the first time, the majority of them are under 50 years old.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7198989.stm

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Mika

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Sun Jan-20-08 02:26 PM
Response to Original message

1. Complete distortion. This is a ratification election of the 614 ELECTED candidates.

Edited on Sun Jan-20-08 02:52 PM by Mika

The candidates were elected in multi candidate elections in October. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_local_elections,_2007 http://www.cctv.com/english/20071022/103158.shtml

Today these elected candidates are to be ratified to hold their seats in the Provincial and National Assemblies (parliaments).

as described briefly here..

Ratification elections today (Jan 20) in Cuba
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x1894

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AlphaCentauri

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Sun Jan-20-08 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. wording in the article migth be taken from the official C. web

http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2008/01/20/nacional/artic13.html

All Set in Cuba for Sunday’s Elections
A total of 8.4 million Cubans are eligible to vote Sunday to elect their provincial and national parliaments.

Election officials confirmed that all the voting material and election workers are ready to proceed with voting day with total efficiency and transparency.

Voters will elect 614 members of the national parliament and 1,202 for the provincial legislatures for a five year term.

More than 700 computers and 21,000 telephones are in place to transmit data and the election results, backed by support from Cuban radio and TV stations.

Now its up to the voters to exercise their right to vote at the more than 38,000 polling stations set up to receive them.

Registration lists, ballots and other election materials were already delivered to the polling places. Citizens in transit, workers indispensable for production and services, and those working at hospitals can vote outside their voting districts.

The list of candidates contains a wide diversity of Cubans including workers, outstanding intellectuals, sports greats, scientists, community leaders, and journalists, representatives of religious associations and members of the armed forces.

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joshcryer

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Sun Jan-20-08 05:32 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. How often do parlament members change positions?

I know the local elections are very active, but what are the odds some kid on the street with aspirations could make it to that level?

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roody

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Sun Jan-20-08 05:38 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Any kid can get active in neighborhood organizations.

Any kid can build a reputation for being a good representative. All kids get a free high-quality education.

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Mika

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Sun Jan-20-08 06:57 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Anyone can run for office. If they have good ideas and can implement them they move forward.

Voter Turnout Expected to Top 8 million in Cuba's Sunday General Elections
http://mathaba.net/news/?x=578634
More than 8.4 million Cubans are expected to participate in the January 20 general elections to elect the delegates to provincial assemblies and the members of the National Assembly (Parliament), said the National Electoral Commission (CEN) President Maria E. Reus Gonzalez.

A dynamic test run last Sunday across the island showed that the infrastructure is in place and ready for the elections to take place in all 38,353 electoral colleges of the country, said Reus.

There are 614 candidates running for Parliament, of which 46.3 percent were elected by local communities, 99 percent have high school diplomas or higher, 63.22 percent are first time nominees, and 56 percent of the candidates were born after 1959.

Women candidates to Parliament MAKE UP 43.16 percent, meaning that Cuba would rank third in the world regarding women deputies in Parliament, if all female candidates are elected.

The Cuban people will also elect 1,201 delegates to provincial assemblies for a five-year term. Of the nominees, 834 are new proposals, and 73.1 percent have university degrees.

The upcoming general elections will be held based on the premise stated by Cuban National Hero Jose Marti "A lot can be done if we stick Together," reiterated in President Fidel Castro's recent statement that the slate vote "expresses the Cuban people's unity of action."

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