The main authorities of our country exercised their right to vote this Sunday and highlighted the importance of these elections.
The president of the National Electoral Council (CEN), Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez, described as excellent the election day of delegates to the municipalassemblies of the People’s Power, to which 8,351,311 Cubans were summoned to vote.
In the different parts of that instance, it was reported the high level of organization and discipline with which the elections were carried out, thanks also to the support and coordinated work of the electoral authorities, the mass organizations and the people.
In these municipal elections, the first to be held after the restructuring of the electoral system in the country, the 23,480 polling stations opened their doors at seven in the morning with all the conditions created and complying with the protocols established in the Electoral Law.
Young people and women played an essential role by in this process. Women, in the first place, maintained an active participation in the whole nomination and organizational process, in addition to the fact that 70% of the electoral authorities are women, and also a high percentage of the gender (more than 44%) in the candidacies.
In the case of young people, they were vital in the functioning of the polling stations, and more than 17 % of the candidates are in this age range.
Regarding the incidents reported during the Election Day, it was explained that these were only evidenced at the beginning of the work of the polling stations, due to some delays of pioneers or members of the polling stations; however, all the polling stations worked with the necessary number of members established by the Electoral Law.
Several authorities of our country called this day a historic one, because most Cubans reaffirmed their commitment and confidence in the political and electoral system of the Greater of the Antilles in spite of the complex economic situation.
In fact, at the request of the electoral councils in several territories and of the voters themselves who asked to exercise their right to vote, the CEN decided to extend voting hours one hour more throughout the country, under the power granted by Article 97.2 of the Electoral Law.
FIDEL, ARCHITECT OF THE CUBAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM
The member of the Political Bureau of the Party and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández evoked the memory of Fidel Castro Ruz, historical leader of the Cuban Revolution and architect of this Cuban democratic electoral system, after exercising his right to vote.
He emphasized that there is no other process like this one in the world, since it is not copied from anywhere else, and it is a reflection of our own history and experiences.
Lazo Hernández commented that the Cuban system has been perfected by the organs of the People’s Power over the years, and that it is still a work in progress, since, by its nature, it is a process that must be corrected by the people themselves.
He pointed out that the delegate is a state authority, a political entity; however, they are not the highest authority of the district, since their power is exercised by the people and the voters.
The parliamentary leader specially recalled what this decisive day represents, which has much to do with what has been achieved by the Revolution, since in the popular participation of this day is reflected the conviction of the people to defend this work.
EXPRESSION OF SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY
Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau of the Party and Prime Minister of the Republic, described these municipal elections as the highest expression of socialist democracy.
He explained that in these elections, Cubans vote for the legitimate representatives of the people, which marks the start of an important process which continues next December 17, with the constitution of the municipal assemblies.
“The role of the Municipal Assembly is key in Cuban democracy. The new constitution gives all the autonomy to that local entity. We are in a process of decentralization of competences from the central government, passing through the provincial government, so that the municipalities can make their own decisions,” explained Marrero Cruz.
He acknowledged that the day was transcendental and significant because the people, in spite of the difficulties, continue to place their trust in the Cuban political system. He stressed that work is being done to reduce the problems faced by the country and which directly impact the population.
“We are proud of the trust placed in us by the people and I assure them that we will not fail them. We will continue to move forward until we solve all the problems and achieve the prosperity we desire for the population,” concluded the Prime Minister.
GREATER AUTONOMY FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES
The member of the Party’s Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of its Central Committee, Roberto Morales Ojeda, described the elections as a day of jubilation, in which the people make use of their right to elect the delegates, whom he characterized as decisive figures in the democratic system of our country, being in charge of evaluating and processing the main concerns of the population.
“It is a transforming position that contributes to the welfare of each of our neighborhoods and constituencies. By participating in the voting, voters are taking part in that process of improvement and change. By electing good delegates we are contributing to the strengthening of the local organs of people’s power,” he pointed out.
He commented on the role played by the delegates in recent years in the country, in situations such as the health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the recovery after phenomena such as Hurricane Ian.
He ratified the idea that municipalities should have more autonomy every day, and highlighted the importance of the municipal assemblies in this plan.
In remembering of the events of November 27, 1871, he recalled the 151st anniversary of the execution of eight medical students, one of the darkest events in the history of Cuba.
He also described this day as a tribute to the memory of our historic leader Fidel Castro Ruz, whose died six years ago on November 25.
DELEGATE, PRIMARY LINK OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM
“This is a patriotic day in which we fulfill the civic responsibility of electing delegates to the municipal assemblies of the People’s Power, to continue defending our revolutionary process,” said the member of the Political Bureau and Vice President of the Republic, Salvador Valdés Mesa.
“We have come to exercise the right and duty endorsed in our Constitution to elect who will best to represent us before the government structures and seek solutions to the problems of the community”, he told the press.
He described the delegate is the primary link in our political system, who plays a fundamental role in decision making at other levels. He added that, after these elections, the process of conformation of the municipal assemblies, the highest representative body in the localities, will begin.
On this day, the country ratified its political system, which is unique, genuine and democratic, he added.
THE ARMED FORCES REAFFIRM THEIR SUPPORT TO THE REVOLUTION
This Sunday was not an ordinary day for the young men serving their active military service in the Great Tank Unit of the Combative Glory Rescue of Sanguily, Order Antonio Maceo,.
The young men carried out the voting with the discipline, enthusiasm and responsibility that characterizes them this Sunday, to elect their representative in the Municipal Assembly of the People’s Power, in the special electoral college constituency 117, in Managua.
Six special polling stations were set up there, organized by the Revolutionary Armed Forces, to guarantee the right to vote to hundreds of combatants, among them sergeants and soldiers from other provinces, who are temporarily in the capital to fulfill their combat mission, as explained to the press the president of the Electoral Commission of the constituency, Lieutenant Colonel Eulices Modoy Duverger.
Translated by ESTI
Source: Granma
