Cuban parliament green lights new constitution, heads to referendum

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 22, 2018 / 5:00 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Cuban parliament green lights new constitution, heads to referendum

Sarah Marsh, Nelson Acosta
4 MIN READ

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban lawmakers on Saturday unanimously approved a revised draft of a new constitution that retains the island’s one-party socialist system but reflects its socio-economic opening since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The draft new constitution, which has 229 articles and will replace a Cold War era one, will maintain the Communist Party as the country’s guiding force and the state’s dominance of the economy, according to state-run media. A copy has not yet been distributed to the public.

The document however also legitimizes private business that has blossomed over the last decade, acknowledges the importance of foreign investment and opens the door to gay marriage, according to state-run media.

It imposes age and term limits on the presidency, after late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his younger brother Raul Castro ruled the country for nearly six decades, and introduces the role of a prime minister.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-constitution/cuban-parliament-green-lights-new-constitution-heads-to-referendum-idUSKCN1OL0OF

[GatoGordo]

1. The Constitution will pass regardless

As does every law that comes down from the Castroists. There is no option for, "back to the drawing board",

When it comes to a vote, there are no options either. So long as one person shows up, its a given. (Much like Maduro's recent convening of a Constitutional Assembly, or ANC. The option was this: "Please vote yes here". Anything else was a spoiled ballot.)

Some noise was made recently about the removal of a gay marriage amendment at the behest of the people, but the Communists will certainly include it, as the Government is top down, not bottom up. What is remarkable is that it was even reported for exclusion. My impression is that they are looking for something to give the world who might otherwise support a leftist (though not necessarily Communist) government.

The information I have seen is that while it does loosen the purse strings (they need cash), it solidifies the Communists hold on power by giving them complete discretion to interpret their new dictates. In other words, THEY will decide what the Constitution says. And in the end, the State still owns everything.