Cuba recovers its communist destiny in the text of the new constitution | World

Homero Acosta, secretary of the State Council and deputy coordinator of the text, informed the National Assembly that this change had been adopted after hearing the opinion of citizens during the popular debates held between August and November.

"We incorporate communism here, because it is only in socialism and communism that the human being reaches his full dignity …", said Acosta.

The National Assembly opened this Friday (21) debate on the draft new constitution, which recognizes the role of the market, private property and foreign investment in its economy. The document will be put to the vote of legislators before being submitted to a referendum on February 24.

After the adjustment, Article 5 of the draft Constitution ratifies the Communist Party of Cuba as "unique, fidelist, Marxist and Leninist, organized avant-garde of the Cuban nation "and" superior political force of society and the state ".

The article indicates that the party "organizes and orients joint efforts in communist society, strives to preserve and strengthen the patriotic unity of Cubans and promotes the development of ethical values, moral and civic ".

"If there was any doubt that anyone could think that Cuba would give up (communism), here it is," Acosta said of article 5, acknowledging that During the debates, opinions were favorable to the suppression of the socialist character of Cuba, but were rejected by the majority.

Accustomed for half a century to political unanimity, more than 783 000 proposals for modification of the text initially presented by the National Assembly were debated in 133,000 neighborhood meetings and work centers.

After hearing about 9 million people, the authors made 760 modifications to the original text. Of a total of 224 articles proposed, 134 have been modified and three have been deleted.

The most controversial article is the 68, which paved the way for gay marriage. This was one of the most discussed, as acknowledged by the National Assembly itself.

The Drafting Committee decided to leave the concept of marriage as a "union between two persons" replacing the expression "union between a man and a woman" in force in the 1976 Constitution.

Listening to the population, the majority opposed to this change, the marriage was erected in social and legal institution, the other details relating to the Family Code. In addition, within two years, a new referendum should be organized.

MP Mariela Castro, daughter of Raúl Castro and lead advocate of the initiative for badual minorities, said that "there are no setbacks" because the new text recognize common-law relationships.

"We do not abandon the fundamentalist and retrograde masters-singers who politically oppose the project of emancipation of the Revolution," said the director of the National Center for Education badual.

The main opponents of the change are the Christian churches, whose representatives had warned that they would vote against any constitutional bill if the "original" concept of the family was changed.

As part of the reforms, Cuba hopes to recognize in this text the role of the market, private property and foreign investment without renouncing socialism. However, the debate is intense regarding issues such as wealth creation and its definition, in a country that advocates the banner of equal opportunities.

Finance Minister Alejandro Gil said Cuba's economy grew by 1.2 percent in 2018, below the 2 percent forecast due to slowing exports Sugar industry, tourism and agriculture. The estimated growth for 2019 is 1%, according to Gil.