New Cuban Parliament Legislature: Genuine Representation of Cuban Society

The parliamentarians were elected last January 20 in a democratic process that saw the overwhelming participation of 8,230,000 voters.

Statistics released by the National Electoral Commission revealed that only 36.78 percent of the elected National Assembly members (224) occupied seats in the parliament before the January 20 general elections.

Incorporated to the new legislature are 391 first time parliamentarians representing over 63 percent; meanwhile, 285 candidates (46.42 percent) were first elected in their respective districts and maintain close contact with the daily life of the community where they reside.

Regarding the racial make up, there are 118 black parliamentarians and 101 of mixed race in the new legislature.

Women comprise 265 seats (42.16 percent), while the educational level includes 481 university graduates (78.34 percent) and 127 high school or technical education graduates (20.68 percent).

Eighty-four graduated in different engineering majors. There are also a large number of graduates in education plus economists, lawyers, doctors, sociologists, military, scientists, nurses, physical culture teachers, meteorologists, historians and theologians.

Obviously, diversity is a distinctive characteristic of the Cuban Parliament. The new legislators will elect the members of the Council of State, the president of the National Assembly and the standing commissions.