Delegates of people’s power in Cuba
Resolving economic and social problems from the local community
The delegates of people’s power play a central role in the Cuban political-economic system of people’s democracy. The delegates are elected to five-year terms by the people in a highly democratic process that does not have anything equivalent in the representative democracies of the world. There are 12,427 delegates in the nation, each representing their voting district in 168 municipal assemblies.
The process begins with a series of neighborhood nomination assemblies in each of the 12,427 voting districts, with three or four neighborhood nomination assemblies held in each district. At the neighborhood nomination assemblies, any citizen can put forth the name of a person to be chosen as a candidate for delegate to the municipal assembly. And any citizen present has the right to speak of the strengths of the persons whose names are put forward. The proposed names are then put to a vote through a show of hands.
In preparation for the municipal elections of 2022, some 44,929 neighborhood nomination assemblies took place from October 21 to November 18. And 6,609,433 voters (72.64% of the residential lists) attended the nomination assemblies.
Based on the reported results of the nomination assemblies, municipal candidacy commissions name the candidates for delegate from each voting district to the municipal assembly. By law, there must be at least two and no more than six candidates; generally, there are two or three. In 2022, there were 26,746 nominated candidates that emerged from the nomination assemblies in the 12,427 voting districts of the nation.
Of the 26,746 nominated candidates in the 2022 municipal elections, women comprised 44.69%; youth, 17.07%; blacks and mulattos, 46.71%; incumbent delegates, 29.95%; deputies in the National Assembly, 0.74%; persons with technical school or higher education, 91.6%; members of the Communist Party, 65.5%; and members of the Union of Young Communists, 4.47%.
The subsequent election of delegates to the 168 municipal assemblies of the nation is conducted through secret voting by citizens at least 16 years of age, who vote for one of the two or more candidates. Prior to these municipal elections, the candidates do not conduct election campaigns. Instead, brief biographies of the candidates are posted side-by-side in prominent public places in the voting district. The candidates win elections on the basis of their achievements in their professions or fields of employment or study, or because they are actively involved and appreciated in the local community and/or the nation. They are not elected on the basis of campaign promises or political party affiliation, although if they are members of the Communist Party, the fact of their Party membership is included in the posted brief biographies. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff election is held.
The elections of the current delegates of the 168 municipal assemblies of people’s power were held on November 27, 2022. Some 5,728,200 citizens went to the voting booths, which represents 68.58% of the voting lists. Once constituted, each of the municipal assemblies elect the president, vice-president, and secretary of the municipal assembly.
The 168 municipal assemblies—with the participation of candidacy commissions composed of representatives of mass organizations—nominate the candidates for the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP for its initials in Spanish). In a second stage of the elections, the nominated candidates are presented to the people in each municipality for ratification in direct secret voting. To be elected a deputy to the ANPP, the candidates must be ratified through a yes vote by a majority of voters. The ANPP is the highest legal and constitutional authority in the nation. It elects the president of the Republic, ratifies the president’s proposals for the heads of the ministries of the government, and enacts legislation. The elected deputies of the ANPP serve for five-year terms.
In addition to nominating the candidates for the ANPP, the delegates of the municipal assemblies of people’s power play a central role in local governance. They have the duty of promoting the participation of the community in the solution of their problems. They are expected to understand the opinions, needs, and difficulties that the voters express, and work to develop appropriate solutions. They should inform the people of the measures adopted in response to the needs that have been expressed. And they are required to meet with the voters in accountability meetings.
For a full description and analysis of the Cuban process of people’s democracy and the Cuban political-economic system, see:
People’s Democracy in Cuba: A vanguard political-economic system
On June 17, 2024, the Cuban Council of State—which consists of deputies of the ANPP who have been elected by the Assembly to act in its behalf between sessions—convoked accountability meetings of the delegates of the municipal assemblies of people’s power. The meetings were held between September 20 and November 15 in voting districts across the nation. These meetings provide voters with the opportunity to express their evaluation of the work of the delegate since being elected, and to reiterate their priorities and concerns.
Accountability meetings in normal times can be characterized by conflict, because there is a tendency among the people to expect their delegates to resolve their various problems as though they were magicians. And the current times are not normal, in that the nation is in the midst of an economic crisis, provoked by the intensification of the U.S. blockade in recent years. With awareness of this challenging situation, the National Assembly developed an orientation program that was designed to ensure that delegates, especially delegates with less experience, were well prepared for the meetings.
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On December 5, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel devoted the fourteenth episode of his podcast Desde la Presidencia (From the Presidency) to the recently completed accountability meetings. The guests on the program were three delegates of popular power: Ana María Gallardo Caso, who has a degree in accounting and recently completed a master’s degree in community development, and who for the last two years has served as president of the municipal assembly of Bugucal in the province of Mayabeque; Pedro Lisardo García Escalona (Pedrito), who for two years has served as president of the Rampa popular council in the Vedado section of Havana, and who previously had served nine years as a delegate to the municipal assembly, serving an area of more than 30,000 persons; and Yarobís Álvarez Contrera, delegate of the municipal assembly of Artemisa, who has been active in the process of recuperation following Hurricane Rafael.
Díaz-Canel expressed his appreciation for the high quality of participation by the people in the accountability meetings, in that the people not only expressed criticisms, but also put forth proposals, some of which are very important. The process illustrated the functioning of the relation between the voters and the local governments. It showed that problems are resolved from the neighborhood and the municipality.
The Cuban president added that Cuban leaders are not waiting for the blockade to end with their arms crossed; the are leading the people in a process of overcoming the blockade through creative resistance. He further noted that in the regular visits being conducted by the leaders of the Party and the government to the local communities throughout the nation, it has become clear that many of the people are working every day to advance, dedicating much time to the effort, and showing results. They are demonstrating what the viability and the sustainability of socialism in Cuba means.
Díaz-Canel referred to a preliminary report that has been given to him by the National Assembly concerning the recently completed accountability meetings. It notes that the most recurring problems identified in the meetings are interruptions in the water supply, the high cost of food, and shortages of products that are sold in the retail market. In addition, with respect to the City of Havana, the report identifies problems in transportation as well as undisciplined conduct by a sector of the population as areas of concern among the people.
Díaz-Canel asked Ana Maria, given her previous work in accounting and finances of the municipal government, how she viewed the current problems from a financial perspective. Ana Maria responded that previously, when she worked for the municipal government, she was focused on the fiscal organization of the government. But now, she looks at the problems from the vision of the people and of the permanent commissions of the municipal assembly, where we look for ways to eliminate problems. From the vantage point of the municipal assembly, we see that we are able to resolve problems through the participation of the people, not only in the accountability meetings but also in the regular meetings of the people’s councils [which encompass several voting districts]. From the vantage point of the assembly, we see how we can attain control of prices as well as the sale of products in accordance with their established price. And we see how improving commerce can supply the stores. With the vision of the people, with a vision of bringing better service and wellbeing to the people, we demand of the appropriate entities their compliance with their administrative functions with respect to these problems.
The Cuban President asked Pedrito to comment on his experiences in La Rampa, where forms of direct communication with the people were developed during the pandemic. Pedrito responded that the project of communication in the Popular Council was initiated through WhatsApp and later was extended to include platforms like Facebook and Telegram. It was developed initially during the pandemic, with the formation of teams of medical students for door-to-door inquiries, seeking to identify persons with respiratory symptoms as well as asymptomatic cases. Later, we assumed the task of organizing lines for the sale of food in stores, which became necessary at that moment. And at a later moment we announced the availability of medicines in the pharmacy. The group has evolved to include a social and community character, in which we have organized an increase in blood donations as well as donations to persons in the country that have been affected by climatic events. We also have participated in the organization of the distribution of food as well as the distribution of school uniforms.
In response to a question by the Cuban President with respect to the greatest dissatisfaction with respect to his work, Pedrito responded that his greatest dissatisfaction is to arrive to an accountability meeting or some interchange with the people without having an adequate response to problems that they have expressed, and my explanation does not convince them. Or, Díaz-Canel interjected, it is a response repeated for many years that no longer convinces anyone. Yes, Pedrito responded, yes. That is the greatest dissatisfaction that I feel, along with arriving in particular situations to a meeting without having been previously briefed concerning the problem at hand.
Díaz-Canel asked if the members of the governmental administration had accompanied the delegates during the accountability meetings, to help them to give explanations. Yes, Pedrito responded, the delegates had the support of the national assembly and the Party in preparing for the accountability meetings in the middle of a period of many difficulties. We appreciated it very much, and we appreciated that persons with a good understanding of the current difficulties and with hope that the problems will be resolved were present and were able to explain. It really was a unique situation in the process of the accountability meetings.
I believe, Pedrito continued, that we Cubans have been under pressure since 1959, and we have earned a doctorate under pressure, a doctorate in creative resistance and a doctorate of hope and faith that these moments will pass, and we are on the road of inevitable triumph. We approach all situations from the neighborhood, seeking the integration of all the economic and state actors of the community in the solution of problems. There exists much potential to resolve many of today’s problems from the neighborhood.
For example, we at the level of the popular council have collaborated to improve the food given to the children in the day care centers, and every Saturday we make available medicines that have been donated by persons who no longer need them because of a positive evolution in their condition. We also have in particular situations resolved problems of shortage of water, as well as problems in the bakeries. The popular council meets each month, and we make a list of points that must be attended to and resolved. We invite representatives of administrative entities, which help us to keep informed and to know the way toward resolution of the problems, or at least to be able to explain to our people.
Making reference to the recent collapse of the national electric system and the four days of blackout (see “Power blackout in Cuba: A chronicle from central Havana,” October 22, 2024; and “The causes of the power blackout in Cuba: The collapse and re-establishment of the national electrical system,” October 25, 2024), Díaz-Canel asked what was done to avoid violent and irrational reactions that can be present in such situations. In response, Pedrito gave credit to the people of La Rampa popular council. Such situations, he noted, involving electricity and the supply of water, are never far from our daily reality. But the people in our popular council never respond in a violent or irrational manner, he said, for two reasons. First, the population has a good understanding of the problems and their causes. And secondly, there is permanent communication with the people. We maintain a constant interchange with the people, not only in digital space but also in physical space. We are continuously in communication with our people and are at their side, providing information and above all hope that the problem will soon be resolved.
The Cuban President, referring to the 1% that all Cuban entities contribute to the municipal governments, asked Ana María if more could be done with the 1% to resolve community problems. Ana María responded that perhaps we are a little behind in attaining the participation of the people in the decisions concerning how to use the 1%. We have to be more connected to the community work in the popular councils and voting districts. We in the municipal assembly and the municipal government ought to listen more to the people and base the investment of the 1% in accordance with the opinions of the people. In addition, we ought to orient the 1% toward development and toward the generation of more income.
Díaz-Canel asked Pedrito if he believes that in La Rampa popular council there is full utilization of popular power. Pedrito responded that, in his view, there remains much potential that has not yet been exploited, above all with respect to the interrelation with the state administration and the community, based in greater participation by the people.
The Cuban President noted that on December 2 the nation began a process of review and reflection concerning ways to confront illegalities, corruption, abusive prices, and price speculation, and to attain a greater integration between state and non-state economic actors. He asked Pedrito if the people in his territory were participating in this process.
Pedrito responded that the President and the national leadership have called us to that reflection, which we were prepared to do, inasmuch as our commission for prevention and social attention meets every month and defines a plan of action with respect to these issues. We believe that the focus has to be above all on prevention. We have begun a process of interchange with eighteen youth who have been given conditional liberty by the judicial system. In addition, we are seeking the participation of the people in social control, and we are arriving to a point where the people are making their own denunciations with respect to cases of abuse of prices and price speculation. Díaz-Canel interjected that this is a constant demand of the people. Pedrito noted that we are calling upon people who want to participate in people’s control of services and prices in this period of challenge.
We also, Pedrito observed, have been conversing with youth who have been involved in the consumption of drugs. We have arranged for the attorney general to discuss the issue with the youth, so that they have a good understanding from a legal point of view. We are holding public discussions on the theme in localities where the people say that there is a high level of drug consumption. Many families are concerned about this issue.
Díaz-Canel asked all three panelists their views concerning what could be done to attain the goal of the greater autonomy of the local communities. Yarobís Álvarez Contrera, the delegate from Artemisa who was participating via video, asserted that we have to continue improving our capacity for listening to the people. Ana María responded that the participation of the people is the key, because the people have the capacity to look beyond the immediate situation and to give solutions for their own benefit. Pedrito gave emphasis to strengthening the capacities of the popular councils as a structure of government in representation of the people.
The Cuban President concurred, observing that the participation of the people and the ties between the people and the local structures of government are the two fundamental elements for attaining the unity of the people, because when we work together on common projects to confront common challenges, victories are attained in common, which gives us unity.
In his concluding remarks, Díaz-Canel declared that the dedicated work of the delegates is the fundamental element of the process of socialist construction.
He further observed that the recently concluded accountability meetings, undertaken in a difficult moment in which there are many dissatisfactions among the people, convoked the people to find common solutions to the problems. The people reacted with an understanding of the moment in which we are living, and they have shown maturity. The people recognize that the delegates play a fundamental role as representatives of their neighbors and the voters, addressing in the municipal assembly the problems that affect the population. At the same time, the people recognize that the delegates are not magicians, and they cannot resolve all problems. The people have put forth recommendations that can be addressed through participation at the community level.
We are working, Díaz-Canel declared, to improve the entire system of democratic and participatory people’s power, thereby defending the thought of Fidel and Raúl. Fidel addressed you, and all the delegates undertaking enormously challenging tasks, as the heroes and heroines of our society.
The delegates, the Cuban president declared, are the heart of the community. If you think, feel, and act with the people, and the people advance with you, then I am sure of the victory against an economic war that has been waged against us for sixty-five years. I am sure that we will overcome.
You have come in the name of and in representation of all those delegates who day after day give themselves to their communities. We are indebted to you, and we thank you for joining us.
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