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The purpose of Cuba is no longer to build a communist society, but a socialist society, mentioned in its new constitutional proposal.
The proposal will also open to private property and keep the door open to lucrative marriage.
Therefore, the proposal of the constitutional commission led by former Cuban President Raúl Castro has received much attention in the Western press, including Reuters.
At first glance, these changes may radically change Cuba forever. But the Norwegian expert from Cuba, scientist Vegard Bye, former researcher and author of Nupi, can not yet convince the Constitutional Act properly.
Do not Believe Soon
Bye, with Dag Hoel, published the book "That's Cuba – Everything else is a lie." Recently, he presented his doctoral dissertation on the processes of change in Cuba
It does not rule out that the proposal for a new constitution could be of major importance for Cuba, but does not think that it could mean much. Until now.
– Cuba will always have a one-party system, a system where the Communist Party is the supreme authority. At the moment, I do not think Leninism goes away with this new constitution, says Bye.
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For the moment, the Constitution is only that: a suggestion. It was debated by the Cuban legislature this weekend. When it is finally approved by the island legislators, it will then be consulted. The final document, which may contain amendments to the current draft, will then be voted on by referendum. But, as Bye says,
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– The result of popular referendums in Cuba usually occurs in advance.
The hope for Cuba was that the country is moving towards a more pluralistic society, among other things, after the United States and Cuba resumed diplomatic relations in 2014, according to Bye.
Another source of hope came in April of this year when Cuba received a president who did not call Castro. Since 1959, Fidel Castro, then his brother Raúl, direct Cuba. Now Miguel Díaz-Canel is President of Cuba
With his 58 years he belongs to the new generation of politicians in Cuba, those born after the communist revolution of the island in 1959.
– Negative Direction
Bye thinks that it has been up to here with pluralistic hope in Cuba.
– Up to now, he has not gone in that direction. This is rather negative, at least for academics, intellectuals and others who want more debate if necessary. I do not think this constitution involves a radical change, but in the long run it may mean something, says the researcher and the author.
More important to the changes in Cuba, says Bye, is what happens to the economy. The clause of the current foundations of communist society in Cuba opens the Constitution to private ownership of land and property. In practice, this is not new, says Bye.
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– At the same time, the Constitution states that state property will continue to be the dominant form of property, he said.
Cuba also announced legislation that will eventually allow the population to establish private businesses
– But Cuba takes a step forward, and two backwards. According to Bye, new legislation regulated alongside the Constitution will make it more difficult for private companies to expand into something more than the dominant form, self-employment.
Generation Change
This is the next generation change at the Politburo of Cuba – the highest political body in the country.
Therefore, 2021 becomes an important year for Cuba. Then the whole police station will be replaced.
– Yet there are Leninist people, some of whom are Stalinists, with political leadership in Cuba. From here 2021, the police office will undergo a complete replacement. Then the old party struggles will disappear, and the different power groups will be freer to each other, says Bye.
Although Miguel Díaz-Canel is president of Cuba, he is not the leader of the Communist Party. The office still holds Raúl Castro, who will not cede it until 2021.
The new constitution can lay the foundation for significant changes after 2021.
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