Political parties and elections Politics of Cuba

suffrage non-compulsory , afforded cuban citizens have resided 2 years on island. such citizens must aged on sixteen years, must not have been found guilty of criminal offense, , cannot mentally handicapped. cubans living abroad denied right vote. national elections 612 members of national assembly of people s power held according system , precepts of 1976 constitution. 1959 1976, legislative branch did not exist. in 1992 constitution reformed allow direct voting elect members national assembly. 1 candidate stood each seat in january 19, 2003 election.

under system, neighbors meet propose candidates municipal assemblies. candidates not present political platform, resumes. municipal candidates elected in each neighborhood elect municipal assembly members. in turn, municipal assembly members elect provincial assembly members, in turn elect national assembly members. direct vote cast decide whether decanted members appear in final step need ratified.

from 1959 1992, when new electoral law of new constitutional amendments enacted, cuban people not afforded right vote members of legislative power—the executive power elected national assembly , there no popular vote president or prime minister. aside communist party of cuba, political parties have legally existed within country since 1992. nevertheless, constitutional reform of 1992 granted right exist simultaneously denied right gather or publicize existence, restriction communist party faces. important of these political parties christian democratic party of cuba, cuban socialist democratic current, democratic social-revolutionary party of cuba, democratic solidarity party, liberal party of cuba , social democratic co-ordination of cuba.