:Politics of Cuba

Executive power in the Cuban government is exercised by the Council of Ministers.{{Rp|page=38}} From February 1959 until February 2008, Cuba was led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who was head of state, head of government, First Secretary of the Communist Party, and commander-in-chief of the Cuban armed forces. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control.

According to the Constitution of Cuba, Article 94, the First Vice President of the Council of State assumes presidential duties upon the illness or death of the President. On July 31, 2006, during the 2006 Cuban transfer of duties, Fidel Castro delegated his duties as president of the Council of state, first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and the post of commander in chief of the armed forces to first Vice President Raúl Castro. Since 2019, the President of Cuba is also limited to two five year terms.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-44836358|title=Cuba sets out new constitutional reforms|date=15 July 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-01-09|language=en-GB}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-constitution-explainer/explainer-what-is-old-and-new-in-cubas-proposed-constitution-idUSKCN1QA273|title=Explainer: What is old and new in Cuba's proposed constitution|author=Marc Frank|work=Reuters|date=21 February 2019 |access-date=9 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://havanatimes.org/?p=139909|title=Some Traps in Cuba's New Constitution|publisher=The Havana Times|date=21 August 2018|author=Antonio Recio}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Cuba-expands-rights-but-rejects-radical-change-in-updated-constitution/1601551276671/|title=Cuba expands rights but rejects radical change in updated constitution|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=2019-01-09}}{{Cite journal|last=Mega|first=Emiliano Rodríguez|date=2019-03-08|title=Cuba acknowledges climate change threats in its constitution|journal=Nature|volume=567|issue=7747|pages=155|language=EN|doi=10.1038/d41586-019-00760-3|pmid=30862928|bibcode=2019Natur.567..155M |doi-access=free}}

File:Capitolio full.jpg, former seat of the National Assembly of People's Power.]]

Cuba has an elected national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular),{{Cite book |last=Cederlöf |first=Gustav |title=The Low-Carbon Contradiction: Energy Transition, Geopolitics, and the Infrastructural State in Cuba |date=2023 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-39313-4 |series=Critical environments: nature, science, and politics |location=Oakland, California}}{{Rp|page=38}} which has 612 members, elected every 5 years and holds brief sessions to ratify decisions by the executive branch. The National Assembly convenes twice a year in ordinary periods of sessions. However, it has permanent commissions to look after issues of legislative interest. Among its permanent or temporary commissions are those in charge of issues concerning the economy, sugar industry, industries, transportation and communications, constructions, foreign affairs, public health, defense and interior order. The National Assembly also has permanent departments that oversee the work of the Commissions, Local Assemblies of the People's Power, International Relations, Judicial Affairs and the Administration.[http://www.hellocuba.ca/political_system.php#Cuban_Political_System Cuban Political system] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224112550/http://www.hellocuba.ca/political_system.php#Cuban_Political_System |date=2019-12-24 }} Cuba education tools.

Article 88(h) of the Constitution of Cuba, adopted in 1976, provides for citizen proposals of law, prerequisite that the proposal be made by at least 10,000 citizens who are eligible to vote. In 2002 supporters of a movement known as the Varela Project submitted a citizen proposal of law with 11,000 signatures calling for a national referendum on political and economic reforms. The Government response was to collect 8.1 million signatures to request that Cuba's National Assembly enact a constitutional amendment making socialism an unalterable feature of Cuban government.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/cubas-parliament-seeks-to-approve-constitutional-change-ratifying-socialism/|title=Cuba's Parliament Seeks to Approve Constitutional Change Ratifying Socialism|publisher=Associated Press|date=June 21, 2002|access-date=January 21, 2016}}

File:Committee for the Defense of the Revolution.JPG

The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution is a network of neighborhood organizations across Cuba of which most Cubans are members.{{Cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gq3GU2QzFyRWT84_YNvI3mgOy7tg?docId=CNG.cd0ab416a2c7901c0abb23f392c5057d.ad1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410190428/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gq3GU2QzFyRWT84_YNvI3mgOy7tg?docId=CNG.cd0ab416a2c7901c0abb23f392c5057d.ad1|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-04-10|title=AFP: Cuba's neighborhood watches: 50 years of eyes, ears|date=2013-04-10|access-date=2019-03-06}} The organizations are designed to put medical, educational or other campaigns into national effect, and to report "counter-revolutionary" activity. It is the duty of the CDR officials to know the political activities of each person in their respective blocks.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

{{Main|List of political parties in Cuba|Elections in Cuba}}

Suffrage is automatically afforded to Cuban citizens who have resided in Cuba for at least two years and are at least sixteen years old. Those legally declared "mentally handicapped" or who are serving time in prison cannot exercise this right. Cubans who live abroad for personal reasons for more than 24 consecutive months lose their right to vote.{{Cite web |title=Cuba's Constitution of 2019 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cuba_2019.pdf?lang=en |website=Constitute Project}}{{Cite web |last=Querido |first=Leandro |date=2022-09-21 |title=The Cuban referendum and the right to vote |url=https://latinoamerica21.com/en/the-cuban-referendum-and-the-right-to-vote/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Latinoamérica 21 |language=en-GB}}{{r|august2013|p=156-157}} The national elections for the 470 members{{cite web |title=Elecciones nacionales en Cuba con alta participación popular |url=https://www.granma.cu/elecciones-cuba-2022-2023/2023-03-27/elecciones-nacionales-en-cuba-con-alta-participacion-popular |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Granma.cu |language=es}} of the National Assembly of People's Power are held according to this system and the precepts of the 1976 Constitution.

General elections consist of two phases: municipal elections and elections to ANPP (National Assembly of People's Power, or Parliament).[http://www.cubasocialista.com/democracia1.htm El sistema político y electoral cubano] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130090254/http://cubasocialista.com/democracia1.htm |date=2009-01-30 }}. Cubasocialista.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-30. They are usually called in July and are held every five years. After elections are called, Council of State designates members of CEN (National Electoral Commission). The CEN oversees elections, but does not participate in them. It is responsible for surveying and inspecting the election procedure and ensure it conforms with the Constitution and electoral law. The CEN appoints CEP (Provincial Electoral Commission), which in turn appoints CEM (Municipal Electoral Commission). The latter lead formation of electoral commissions at the grassroots. There are roughly 1450 people in each of these circunscripcións.{{r|august2013|p=154-156}}

For the purpose of Municipal elections, each circunscripción is further divided into two to eight areas with the goal of allowing nomination meetings to be very compressed and based on the grassroots. The number of nomination areas is determined by the population in the circunscripción. In rural areas, extension of territory is also taken into consideration. People have the right to participate, nominate and vote only in the area in which they live. Nomination area assembly meetings are normally held in public areas at eight o'clock in the evening on weekdays or during the day on the weekend. Each assembly is presided over by the local electoral commission. Individuals have the right to propose anyone who lives in their circunscripción as long as the person has indicated they are willing to be nominated. The person nominating must provide a reason for nomination. Others have the right to argue against a nomination. When this is done, a show-of-hands vote is taken and counted by the electoral commission. The person with the most votes becomes the candidate for that nomination area. In order to ensure the law is being followed, members of CEP make surprise visits to nomination meetings.{{r|august2013|p=157-159}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bnjm.cu/secc/home/ley-electoral.pdf|title=Ley No. 127, Artículo 93.1|date=August 19, 2019}}

Once candidates have been nominated, the local electoral commission obtains a short biographical profile and a photo from them. These are posted in local public spaces for easy access to voters. This is the only publicity permitted under the electoral law. Voters are expected to read the profiles in order to make their choice. Campaigning is not permitted.{{cite web|url=https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ley-Electoral-2017-18.pdf|title=Ley No. 72, Artículo 171|date=April 2018|access-date=May 1, 2023}} Duharte Díaz, professor at University of Havana, is of the opinion that posting profiles is insufficient and that more should be done to present the candidates.{{cite journal|title=The Cuban Political System: Current Status and Possible Reforms for an Integral and Democratic Participative Transformation|date=Winter 2018|journal=International Journal of Cuban Studies|volume=10|number=2|pages=175–208|author=Emilio Antonio Duharte Díaz|doi=10.13169/intejcubastud.10.2.0175 |jstor=10.13169/intejcubastud.10.2.0175 |doi-access=free}}

Municipal elections are usually held in October. On the day of the vote, held always on a Sunday, voters confirm their voting eligibility by presenting their identification cards and are then handed a ballot with names of candidates nominated in their circunscripción. Voting is secret. To win, a candidate must receive at least 50% plus one of the vote. If this does not happen, the candidate who placed last is eliminated and voting is repeated with remaining candidates.{{r|august2013|p=162-163}}

Candidates elected in municipal elections carry out their functions on a voluntary basis after their regular work hours. Once municipal assemblies are constituted, they elect their presidents and vice-presidents from among themselves. These individuals are the only ones who are full-time, earning the same salary as they received at their place of work.{{r|august2013|p=146-147}}

Second phase, elections to ANPP (Parliament), is different from municipal elections. Up to half of the members of parliament are nominated from individuals elected in municipal election. The rest are nominated by mass organisations. These are Workers' Central Union of Cuba, Federation of Cuban Women, National Association of Small Farmers, Federation of University Students, Federation of Pre-University Students and Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. To propose candidates for elections each of the six mass organisations assembles at all three levels in plenary sessions to propose candidates from the population. The goal is to obtain a pool of potential candidates representing a wide cross-section of the population. Because of this, each of the mass organisations at all three levels (municipal, provincial, national) has the right to propose at least three times the number of candidates needed for each municipality to be represented in the parliament. The proposals are sent to CCN (National Candidacies Commission) which then reduces the list down to the number of seats.{{r|august2013|pages=167-171}}

Before elections (that usually happen in January), meetings between candidates and workers are held in places of work and in the neighbourhoods. Similarly to municipal elections, the only publicity allowed is a short biography and a photo. Elections happen on a Sunday. Voters are given a ballot with the names of candidates chosen by the CCN to represent their municipality. They can choose to vote for all, some or none of the candidates. To be elected, a candidate must receive at least 50% plus one of the valid votes. If they do not, a new candidate is chosen for the seat and voting repeated.{{r|august2013|pages=174-175}}{{Cite web|url=https://cuba-solidarity.org.uk/resources/democracyfactsheet2015.pdf|title=Cuban Democracy Fact Sheet|author=Cuban Solidarity Campaign|access-date=27 June 2022}}

{{Main|Communist Party of Cuba}}The organization of Cuba's political system reflects the Marxist–Leninist principle of democratic centralism.{{Rp|page=38}}

• First Secretary: Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
• Second Secretary: Jose Ramon Machado Ventura
• Members of Politburo: Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, Salvador Valdés Mesa, José Ramón Machado Ventura, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Álvaro López Miera, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Abelardo Álvarez Gil, Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, Teresa María Amarelle Bué, Marta Ayala Ávila, Manuel Marrero Cruz, José Amado Ricardo Guerra, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Gladys Martínez Verdecia.
• Members of Secretariat: Miguel Díaz-Canel, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, Abelardo Álvarez Gil, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Joel Queipo Ruiz, José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, Félix Duarte Ortega, Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo.

File:Ministry of the Interior of Cuba with flag.jpg, Havana]]

• Prime Minister: Manuel Marrero
• First Deputy Prime Minister: Salvador Valdés Mesa
• Deputy Prime Ministers: Marino Alberto Murillo Jorge, Ulises Rosales del Toro, Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruíz, Antonio Enrique Lussón Batlle
• Minister of Interior: Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas
• Minister of the Armed Forces: Álvaro López Miera

• President: Esteban Lazo Hernández{{Cite web|url= https://www.radiotrinidad.icrt.cu/2023/04/19/sesion-constitutiva-de-la-asamblea-nacional-del-poder-popular-para-su-x-legislatura-minuto-a-minuto/|title= Sesión constitutiva de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular para su X Legislatura minuto a minuto|website=radiotrinidad.icky.cu|date= 19 April 2023|language=es|access-date=2023-08-09}}
• Vice President: Ana María Mari Machado{{Cite web|url=https://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/ana-maria-mari-machado|title=ana-maria-mari-machado|website=National Assembly of People's Power|language=es|access-date=2023-08-09}}
• Secretary: Homero Acosta Álvarez{{Cite web|url=https://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/homero-acosta-alvarez|title=homero-acosta-alvarez|website=National Assembly of People's Power|language=es|access-date=2023-08-09}}

File:Vladimir Putin in Cuba 14-17 December 2000-5.jpg and Fidel Castro in 2000.]]

{{Main|Foreign relations of Cuba}}

Cuba's foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner Cuba was comparatively isolated in the 1990s, but has since entered bilateral co-operation with several South American countries, most notably Venezuela and Bolivia. Cuba has normal diplomatic and economic relations with every country in the Western hemisphere except the United States.[http://www.lataminfo.org/post/?php=1218 "US Lawmakers Say Normalize Cuba Relations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903231300/http://www.lataminfo.org/post/?php=1218 |date=2009-09-03 }}, lataminfo.org, April 2009.

The United States continues an embargo "so long as [Cuba] continues to refuse to move toward democratization and greater respect for human rights."{{cite web|url=https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/regions/wha/cuba/democ_act_1992.html|title=Cuban Democracy Act of 1992|publisher=State Department}}

The European Union accuses Cuba of "continuing flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms", but also "Reiterates its condemnation of the US embargo on Cuba, and calls for it to be lifted forthwith, as the UN General Assembly has repeatedly demanded."{{cite web|work=Official Journal of the European Union|date=4 September 2003|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2004:076E:0384:0386:EN:PDF|title=EU-Cuba relations}}

Cuba has developed a growing relationship with the People's Republic of China and Russia. In all, Cuba continues to have formal relations with 160 nations, and provided civilian assistance workers – principally medical – in more than 20 nations.[https://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/c/13238.htm Cuba (09/01)] US Department of State report More than two million exiles have escaped to foreign countries.{{cite book |last1=Pedraza |first1=Silvia |date=September 2007|title=Political Disaffection in Cuba's Revolution and Exodus |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/315e/9c08d134f324c22b8c33df60901bc7a381d4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204085722/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/315e/9c08d134f324c22b8c33df60901bc7a381d4.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-02-04 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |s2cid=152534369 |access-date=2021-01-30}}{{cite journal |last1=Pedraza |first1=Silvia |date=1998|title=Cuba's Revolution and Exodus |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jii/4750978.0005.204/--cuba-s-revolution-and-exodus?rgn=main;view=fulltext |journal=The Journal of the International Institute |volume=5 |issue=2|access-date=2021-01-30}}{{cite book |date=1983 |title=Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session · Parts 1-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MeFJAQAAIAAJ&dq=cuban+exodus&pg=PA532 |publisher=US Government Printing Office |page=532}}{{cite encyclopedia|last=Powell |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VNCX6UsdZYkC&q=%22cubans+are+usually+considered+to+be+the+most+successful%22&pg=PA68|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of North American Immigration|pages=68–71|title=Cuban immigration |publisher=Facts on File |date=2005 |access-date=22 December 2024|isbn=9781438110127 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/castro-cuban-exiles-america/ |website=PBS |title=Cuban Exiles in America |date=2005}}{{Cite news |last=Vicent |first=Mauricio |date=15 December 2022 |title=The Cuban migration crisis: Biggest exodus in history holds key to Havana-Washington relations |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-12-15/the-cuban-migration-crisis-biggest-exodus-in-history-holds-key-to-havana-washington-relations.html |newspaper=El País English}}{{Cite web |last=Duany |first=Jorge |date=3 July 2017 |title=Cuban Migration: A Postrevolution Exodus Ebbs and Flows |url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/cuban-migration-postrevolution-exodus-ebbs-and-flows |website=Migration Policy Institute}} Cuba's present Minister of Foreign Affairs is Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

File:Todos a votar manana por la constitucion socialista.jpg

File:Candidatos Elecciones Cuba SCU 2008.JPG and provincial parliaments in Santiago de Cuba]]

{{Main|Cuba and democracy}}

{{See also|Grassroots dictatorship|International rankings of Cuba}}

Some political scientists characterize the political system of Cuba as non-democratic and authoritarian,{{Cite journal|last=Hoffmann|first=Bert|date=2015-10-01|title=The international dimension of authoritarian regime legitimation: insights from the Cuban case|url=https://doi.org/10.1057/jird.2014.9|journal=Journal of International Relations and Development|language=en|volume=18|issue=4|pages=556–574|doi=10.1057/jird.2014.9|s2cid=144107918|issn=1581-1980}}{{Cite book|last1=Levitsky|first1=Steven|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZDI05p1PDgC|title=Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War|last2=Way|first2=Lucan A.|date=2010-08-16|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-49148-8|pages=361–363|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last1=Lachapelle|first1=Jean|last2=Levitsky|first2=Steven|last3=Way|first3=Lucan A.|last4=Casey|first4=Adam E.|date=2020|title=Social Revolution and Authoritarian Durability|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/world-politics/article/abs/social-revolution-and-authoritarian-durability/B62A931E63978E8B8466225EC123D2A9|journal=World Politics|language=en|volume=72|issue=4|pages=557–600|doi=10.1017/S0043887120000106|s2cid=225096277|issn=0043-8871}}{{Cite journal|last=Miller|first=Nicola|date=2003-01-01|title=The Absolution of History: Uses of the Past in Castro's Cuba|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0022009403038001969|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|language=en|volume=38|issue=1|pages=147–162|doi=10.1177/0022009403038001969|s2cid=153348631|issn=0022-0094}}{{Cite journal|last=Geoffray|first=Marie Laure|date=2015|title=Transnational Dynamics of Contention in Contemporary Cuba|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022216X15000048/type/journal_article|journal=Journal of Latin American Studies|language=en|volume=47|issue=2|pages=223–249|doi=10.1017/S0022216X15000048|s2cid=146318186|issn=0022-216X}}{{Cite journal|last=Hawkins|first=Darren|date=2001|title=Democratization Theory and Nontransitions: Insights from Cuba|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/422443|journal=Comparative Politics|volume=33|issue=4|pages=441–461|doi=10.2307/422443|jstor=422443|issn=0010-4159}} while others challenge this characterization.{{r|august2013|p=146-149}} It is a single-party state where political opposition is not permitted.{{Cite journal |last1=Schedler |first1=Andreas |last2=Hoffmann |first2=Bert |date=2015 |title=Communicating authoritarian elite cohesion |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13510347.2015.1095181 |journal=Democratization |language=en |volume=23 |pages=93–117 |doi=10.1080/13510347.2015.1095181 |issn=1351-0347 |s2cid=146645252}} The function of the party is different to that in liberal democracies. It does not propose candidates and is not allowed to influence elections.{{r|august2013|p=159-160}} Candidates are instead nominated directly by citizens with a show of hands in circunscripciones (very small districts).{{r|august2013|p=146-149}} Critics challenge whether this is democratic.{{Cite journal|last1=Galvis|first1=Ángela Fonseca|last2=Superti|first2=Chiara|date=2019-10-03|title=Who wins the most when everybody wins? Predicting candidate performance in an authoritarian election|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2019.1629420|journal=Democratization|volume=26|issue=7|pages=1278–1298|doi=10.1080/13510347.2019.1629420|s2cid=197727359|issn=1351-0347}}{{Cite journal|last1=Domínguez|first1=Jorge I.|last2=Galvis|first2=Ángela Fonseca|last3=Superti|first3=Chiara|date=2017|title=Authoritarian Regimes and Their Permitted Oppositions: Election Day Outcomes in Cuba|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/latin-american-politics-and-society/article/abs/authoritarian-regimes-and-their-permitted-oppositions-election-day-outcomes-in-cuba/3F9E5B1A4EB059A316A9AB2BB0628216|journal=Latin American Politics and Society|language=en|volume=59|issue=2|pages=27–52|doi=10.1111/laps.12017|s2cid=157677498|issn=1531-426X}} Censorship of information (including limits to internet access) is extensive,{{Cite web|last=Moynihan|first=Michael C.|date=22 February 2008|title=Still Stuck on Castro - How the press handled a tyrant's farewell|url=http://www.reason.com/news/show/125095.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120920/http://www.reason.com/news/show/125095.html|archive-date=20 September 2012|access-date=25 March 2009}} and independent journalism is repressed in Cuba;{{Cite web|date=3 October 2006|title=62nd General Assembly Reports: Cuba|url=http://www.sipiapa.com/v4/det_informe.php?asamblea=3&infoid=62&idioma=us|access-date=6 August 2012|publisher=Inter American Press Association}} Reporters Without Borders has characterized Cuba as one of the worst countries in the world for press freedom.[http://index.rsf.org/#!/index-details/CUB "Press Freedom Index 2015"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827202105/http://index.rsf.org/#!/index-details/CUB |date=2015-08-27 }}, Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 12 November 2015{{cite web|year=2008|title=Press Freedom Index 2008|url=http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/cl_en_2008.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303221403/http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/cl_en_2008.pdf|archive-date=2009-03-03|publisher=Reporters Without Borders}}

Officially, Cuba frames itself as a "people's democracy", as opposed to the "liberal democracy" of Western states. Cuba thus rejects criticism of its political system as a lack of appreciation for different forms of democracy other than those in capitalist states.{{cite web|last1=Roman|first1=Peter|title=Electing Cuba's National Assembly Deputies: Proposals, Selections, Nominations, and Campaigns|url=http://www.cedla.uva.nl/50_publications/pdf/revista/82RevistaEuropea/82-Roman-ISSN-0924-0608.pdf|access-date=2 January 2015}} It alludes to the grass roots elements in the nomination of candidates at neighborhood level (in the so-called circunscripciónes).{{cite web|last1=Mendoza|first1=Juan|title=Elecciones en Cuba - un proceso democrático|url=http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2012/12/24/elecciones-en-cuba-un-proceso-democratico/#.VKaxbXsWDZ0|website=Cubadebate|access-date=2 January 2015}}

Opposition groups inside and outside the country as well as a summary published by Human Rights Watch{{cite web|last1=Human Rights Watch|title=Country Summary: Cuba|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/wr2k6/pdf/cuba.pdf|website=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2 January 2015}} and certain foreign governments have described the Cuban political system as undemocratic. On the other hand, Cuba is a member of organisations ALBA and CELAC, that consider themselves democratic.{{cite web|last=August|first=Arnold|title=CELAC Defines Democracy and Cuba Is Fully Involved|url=https://www.democracyintheus.com/CELAC_Defines_Democracy_and_Cuba_Is_Fully_Involved.pdf|date=April 2012|access-date=1 May 2023}} The United States Government has initiated various policy measures ostensibly designed to urge Cuba to undertake political change towards a multi-party electoral system. These plans have been condemned by the Cuban Government, who accuses the United States of meddling in Cuba's affairs.{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/787408 |title=Cuban official discounts US action |date=14 July 2006 |agency=Reuters |work=Television New Zealand |access-date=3 November 2011}}

{{Main|Human rights in Cuba}}

According to Human Rights Watch, Castro constructed a "repressive machinery" that continues to deprive Cubans of their basic rights.{{cite web|title=Cuba: Fidel Castro's Abusive Machinery Remains Intact|date=18 February 2008 |publisher=Human Rights Watch|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/02/18/cuba-fidel-castro-s-abusive-machinery-remains-intact}} The Cuban government has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, unfair trials, and extrajudicial executions (a.k.a. "El Paredón").{{cite web | date =April 7, 1967 | url = http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/Cuba67sp/indice.htm | title =Information about human rights in Cuba | publisher =Comision Interamericana de Derechos Humanos | language = es| access-date =2006-07-09 }} Human Rights Watch reports that the government represses nearly all forms of political dissent.

The country's first ever transgender municipal delegate was elected in the province of Villa Clara in early 2013. Adela Hernández is a resident of the town of Caibarién and works as a nurse electrocardiogram specialist. In Cuba, delegates are not professional politicians and, therefore, do not receive a government salary.{{cite news|title=Cuba's First Transsexual Politician|url=http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=101090|access-date=9 January 2014|newspaper=Havana Times|date=8 January 2014|author=Fernando Ravsberg}}

In 2022, the Family Code constitutional amendment passed. This followed hundreds of painstaking assembly discussions within communities and institutions across the island. This Code ensures the protection of rights of adoption, surrogacy, transgender-affirmation, same-sex marriages and the legitimacy of intergenerational households.

{{Main|Corruption in Cuba}}

The 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Cuba 58th out of 176 countries, tied with Jordan and Namibia.{{cite web|url=http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/#CountryResults|title=Transparency International - the global coalition against corruption|year=2012|publisher=Transparency International|access-date=24 March 2012|archive-date=29 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129013918/http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/#CountryResults|url-status=dead}} and has lower levels than most of the other countries in the Caribbean and Central America. In 2006, it was ranked in 112th place, tied with India.

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite book|last=August|first=Arnold|date=2013|title=Cuba and Its Neighbours: Democracy in Motion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BGcOywAACAAJ|publisher=Zed books ltd.|pages=146–175|isbn=9781848138667 }}}}

• Erikson, Daniel P. (2005). "Charting Castro's Possible Successors". SAIS Review 25.1, 89–103.
• Evenson, Debra (1994). Revolution in the balance: Law and society in contemporary Cuba. Westview Press, Boulder. {{ISBN|0-8133-8466-4}}.
• Grenier, Yvon (2017), Culture and the Cuban State; Participation, Recognition, and Dissonance under Communism (Lexington Books)
• (fr) Danielle Bleitrach and Jean-François Bonaldi, Cuba, Fidel et le Che ou l'aventure du socialisme, Editions Le Temps des Cerises, 2009 {{ISBN|978-2-8410-9671-8}}.

{{Portal|Cuba}}

• [http://www.cubaweb.cu Cubaweb – Official Cuban Web Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050713080042/http://www.cubaweb.cu/ |date=2005-07-13 }}
• [http://www.cubagov.cu/ Gobierno de la República de Cuba – Government of the Republic of Cuba] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408060930/http://www.cubagov.cu/ |date=2007-04-08 }}
• [http://www.parlamentocubano.cu/ Cuban Parliament]
• [http://www.tsp.cu/ People's Supreme Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630041003/http://www.tsp.cu/ |date=2013-06-30 }}

{{Cuba topics}}

{{Americas topic|Politics of}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Cuba}}