Socialist Viewpoint

Every two years, every Cuban of voting age has the opportunity to vote for their local government, the municipal assembly of People's Power or Poder Popular as it is called in Spanish. Each candidate in these elections is chosen by electors who gather in a public meeting for the purpose two months prior to the elections. Candidates thus chosen may publish photos and a brief biography and can participate in conferences ·and visit workplaces so that electors can get to know them better; but the law prohibits organized canvassing on behalf of any candidate. It is not obligatory for any candidate to be a. member of the ·communist party but in practice many are.

1997 was one such year and September was dedicated to the nation-wide organization of neighborhood meetings. These meetings are arranged in every neighborhood by the local Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), one of the most central popular organizations. in Cuban society. Frequently maligned in the western media as being a "spy network," the CDRs were formed 37 years ago at the height of the U.S.-organized terror campaign in Cuba to organize the ordinary people to be vigilant against infiltration and terrorist attacks.

This remains a core function of the organization, but since those days the CD Rs have taken many other roles as well, which now places the organization at the heart of the revolutionary process.

These roles include the running of the bi-annual local elections, the twice yearly blood donation campaigns, the organization of volunteers to clean the streets, collecting used materials for recycling, visiting the elderly and sick and supporting the local family doctor in ensuring that all newborn children in the neighborhood are properly registered and vaccinated. The CDR also organizes the highlight of the year-the local street party to celebrate its foundation and the end of the candidate selection process.

Despite the highly scattered nature of some rural communities, this year, Havana, where I live, was the last place to complete its cycle of meetings to select candidates. As an outsider, I was not directly involved but I observed my local meeting and, comparing it with those that were broadcast on the news, I think it is fair to say that they are well attended. My neighborhood meeting selected three candidates for the local "seat"-the incumbent and two much younger hopefuls. Although I was new to the neighborhood, we already knew the incumbent, as she is the local nurse.

To be elected, a candidate must receive more than 50 per cent of the vote. I think the most impressive part of the whole process is the level of participation. It was estimated that more than 70 per cent of the electorate took part in the candidate selection process and more than 97 per cent turned out to vote in. the elections. Neither voting nor taking part in the selection process is compulsory. The next most impressive thing is the way in which the media and the people themselves promote the whole process. There was even a song written for the occasion sung, by among others Silvio Rodriguez.

The election process in Cuba is seen as a kind of plebiscite and the government puts great store in the fact that people take part in such great numbers. Those who do not agree with the system are told to take part and spoil their ballots. Of the 97 per cent in the elections last October only 7 per cent were spoiled. What more proof is needed of the Revolution's continuing support?

CSC member Mike Walker has been living in Cuba for two years.