Council of State convenes general elections

THE Council of State today, July 10, convened general elections in Cuba for delegates to municipal and provincial assemblies, and deputies to Parliament.

The official announcement, signed by First Vice President of the Council of State Raúl Castro, specifies that these elections will decide on the delegates to the municipal assemblies of People’s Power, whose terms last two and a half years.

The first round of these elections will be held on October 21, 2007, and in those cases where candidates do not obtain more than 50 percent of valid votes cast, a second round will be held on the 28th of the same month.

The date for electing provincial delegates and deputies will be set at an appropriate time.

Provincial delegates and deputies are elected for five-year terms.

The 1992 Electoral Law also establishes that in general elections, the president, vice president and secretary are chosen for the National Assembly of People’s Power (Parliament).

In addition, the president, first vice president, vice president, secretary and other members of the Council of State are chosen.

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION ARE INVESTED

Likewise, members of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) were invested, presided over by María Esther Reus González, minister of justice.

In an appointment signed by First Vice President Raúl Castro, others invested included Rubén Pérez Rodríguez, as vice president and Tomás Amaral Díaz, as secretary of the NEC.

The members of this commission are Juan Aizpurúa Rodríguez, Miguel Pérez Martín, coronel Leonides Rodríguez Rojas, Manuel Ríos Medina, Guido Urrutia Valdés, Gisela Bell Heredia, Arnel Medina Cuenca, Juan Mendoza Díaz and José Flores del Sol.

And elected members included Mayra Díaz García, Miguel Lara Ginert, Reynaldo Montero de Miranda, Lieutenant Colonel Julio Torres García and Minerva Valdés.

From July 13 to 22, electoral commissions will be designated and constituted at the different levels throughout the country.

The elections law of October 29, 1992 establishes in its 21st article that once elections have been officially convened, the Council of State must appoint the NEC.

In addition, the NEC must set the terms for constituting the provincial, municipal, district and neighborhood electoral commissions.