A New Model for Cuba Is Still Forthcoming
HAVANA TIMES — President Raul Castro inaugurated the Seventh Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) on Saturday with a report read for two hours. He said that a new model would not be approved in this event as previously announced.
Castro acknowledged the existence of small and medium businesses but stressed the prevalence and importance of state ownership. Politically, he confirmed that Cuba would remain a socialist, one-party system, while announcing a proposal for age limits for the leaders.
Raul Castro, 84, who also holds the position of First Secretary of the PCC, said that the definition of the Cuban social model required further debate that will continue after the Congress, to be later approved by the Central Committee.
The differences have to do with ownership and production systems, which have changed since self-employment was authorized, including small and medium businesses [with salaried employees]. However, he made it clear that accumulation in a few hands of the means of production and services, or the riches derived from them, would not be allowed.
He noted that under the cover of the economic reforms, the new US strategy is aimed at influencing the self-employed and entrepreneurs. He said he is confident that most of these Cubans are revolutionary and patriotic but that Washington’s new policy continues to pursue the destruction of the Cuban Revolution. He argued that more effective political and ideological work is needed, especially among young people, self-employed and intellectuals.
To reassure the more orthodox wing of the Party, Castro said that the growth of cooperatives would be slow, first consolidating what already exists and studying the implications of each future step. He said the “socialist state enterprise” will continue to control the largest segment of the economy and that the upcoming monetary unification would benefit their development because now the exchange rate puts them at a disadvantage versus private businesses.
Raul Castro was also unable in this Congress to carry out the promised generational transition, which he said will take place gradually over the next four years. He proposed age and term limits for all leaders of the PCC: two periods of five years in office, a maximum of 60 years to enter the Central Committee and 70 for the Politburo, the body holding the most power on the island.
The president said it was time that many leaders were caring for grandchildren and reading books, but the silence in the room was such that he had to explain that it was a joke.
He announced the need to debate the necessary changes in the constitution to update it according to the reforms that have been implemented. The constitution declares illegal, for example, private production of goods or services based on hired labor, dubbed as “exploitation of man by man”.
However, he said the article stating that the socialist system is irrevocable and that the Communist Party is the leading force of society, would remain intact.
Raul Castro said that any division into several parties would be to weaken and destroy the revolution. He joked about the US two-party system saying it would be like Fidel and himself creating two parties.
It is still too early to know exactly what will come out of this 7th Congress but it is clear that a consensus on the new model is unlikely. The disagreement has to do with factors that are intertwined, such as the slow pace of generational transfer and a fear in some that the changes would open the door to capitalism and a group of business leaders who long for an outcome similar to what took place in the Soviet Union, when executives working for the state became the private owners of the companies they managed.
Raul Castro again confirmed that he will leave the presidency of Cuba in 2018 but did not mention whether he would continue at the helm of the Communist Party after that date.
On the contrary, the American system is the most analyzed, most reported-on, most visible system in the world and we like it that way. Even your parroted criticisms have value to us. I can’t tell you how much sleep Americans lose worrying about what Canadians think of us. (A touch of sarcasm). It’s just not appropriate in a blog about Cuba.
I find it more meaningful to compare various aspects of the two systems. We, in Canada for instance, held Parliamentary Elections last Fall after a 43 day contest which resulted in the election of a majority Liberal Federal Government that the people seem quite happy with. I can understand why you don’t like shining a light on the American System. I wouldn’t want to either.
So do you support the Castros beating up the Ladies in White for exercising their God-given right to peaceful protest? Try not to answer the question by deflecting with a criticism of the US.
What about the Republican primaries? The Reeps started with 17 candidates. They are down to 3. As ridiculous as Trump and Cruz may seem to you, as they do to me, they obviously represent a measurable population of voters. That’s how democracy works. I don’t like what these wackos are saying but I will defend to the death their right to say it. Have you heard that before somewhere? This blog is about Cuba. You have a right to hate the US but you are on the wrong blog to express that hate..
From the Miami Herald :::
http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article72441327.html
I strongly feel the Government should be building cabana communities. These cabanas could be sold to non Cubans for vacation or retirement. Each canana would have live in quarters for maid or butler.
No. Better to shoot them down in the street like they do in Philadelphia and Detroit. Or wait until they get into the church then burn it down.
You mean like the Republican Primaries! Let the people decide. What planet are you living on ?
Firm, yes. It’s a dictatorship. But far from confident. If the Castros were confident, they would hold open and independent elections. Let the people actually decide what they want.
Thanks for, as we say up here in Vermont, “boiling down” the “sap” into “syrup.” Along about page 12 or 13 of the entire transcript, courtesy Progreso Seminal, my eyes began glazing over (eventually, it hurts my eyes to read on the screen–but I didn’t want to print up the 30+ pages of the text, since I like to limit the number of pages I print up–and ultimately have to throw away)!
Do “firm confident leaders” need to beat up ladies going to church?
http://mobile.reuters.com/news/picture/cubas-ladies-in-white?articleId=USRTX1Y6DC
….actually, think Romania 1989. Now that would be a pretty picture.
“More effective political and ideological work is needed, especially among young people, self-employed and intellectuals.” That’s Raul’s response to young people and highly motivated entrepreneurs not following the party line. Here’s the deal, I’m not telling Cuban’s what to do but based on everything I’ve seen going on in Cuba and the “young people” enjoying imported music with intensity, you’re days could be numbered, Raul, think Soviet Russia, Poland and Berlin.
Firm, confident leadership is my reading of this.
So the model will continue to be updated with a focus on increasing production. The age limits are interesting as it will lead to a more fluid turn over in leadership. In a one party system institutional triggers to manage leadership transitions are needed for long term stability. But bad news for old dogs that have been waiting on their turn.