Search results for: referendum constitution

Etecsa Charges for But Then Blocks Messages for the "No" Vote and Abstention in the Referendum

14ymedio, Havana, 7 January 2019 — The battle to win the constitutional referendum of February 24 has led the Cuban Government to take all types of actions. Along with advertisements for “I’m voting Yes” at baseball games and the avalanche of messages of support on social media, it has opted for censorship of text messages that … Continue reading “Etecsa Charges for But Then Blocks Messages for the "No" Vote and Abstention in the Referendum”

Is Fraud Possible in the February 24 Referendum?

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, January 2, 2018 — The possibility that some type of fraud could be committed to distort the results of the constitutional referendum, which will take place on February 24 in Cuba, is one of the most frequent worries in conversations among activists. The suspicion of a possible fraud has a demobilizing … Continue reading “Is Fraud Possible in the February 24 Referendum?”

Cuban Government Assumes a Great Risk With Its Referendum

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 31 December 2018 — The last referendum held in Cuba occurred on 15 February 1976. On that occasion, the electoral census registered 5,717,266 citizens with the right to vote. The results of the vote showed the following data: Exercising the vote: 5,602,973 (98% of the list of voters). Leaving the ballot blank: 44,221 (0.8% … Continue reading “Cuban Government Assumes a Great Risk With Its Referendum”

14ymedio Faces of 2018: Cuban Evangelical Churches Against Article 68 of the Constitution

14ymedio, Havana, 25 December 2018 — In July of this year in more than 3,000 evangelical churches across Cuba prayers were raised to defend the traditional family and criticize the inclusion in the draft Constitution of Article 68, where marriage was defined as “the union between two people.” The Assemblies of God Churches, the Eastern and … Continue reading “14ymedio Faces of 2018: Cuban Evangelical Churches Against Article 68 of the Constitution”

14ymedio Faces of 2018: LGBTI Groups in Favor of Article 68 of the Constitution

14ymedio, Havana, 25 December 2018 — Since the content of Article 68 was revealed in the preliminary draft of the constitutional reform project, the most active groups of the LGBTI community showed their support for the definition of marriage — the union between two people without specifying gender — contained in the text. The activists saw in … Continue reading “14ymedio Faces of 2018: LGBTI Groups in Favor of Article 68 of the Constitution”

Nineteen Independent Cuban Organizations Campaign for a "No" Vote on the Constitution

14ymedio, Havana, 22 December 2018 — Several opposition parties, civil society groups and human rights organizations, totaling nineteen independent Cuban organizations, describe the revised Constitution as “undemocratic” in a statement published this Saturday. The signatories add that they have united to promote a “No” vote in the constitutional referendum. “Compatriots: we ask you to vote NO in … Continue reading “Nineteen Independent Cuban Organizations Campaign for a "No" Vote on the Constitution”

Marriage Equality Eliminated From the Constitutional Reform Project

EFE via 14ymedio, Havana, December 19, 2018 — The commission preparing the draft of the new Cuban Constitution eliminated the article that would open the door to gay marriage, after the opposition to this matter that surfaced during the popular debates on the reform of the Constitution, which have been taking place for the past … Continue reading “Marriage Equality Eliminated From the Constitutional Reform Project”

Intellectuals, Politicians and Activists Denounce Cuban Constitutional Reform Process

14ymedio, Havana, 12 November 2018 — The Madrid-based Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) has released a letter, signed by over twenty intellectuals, politicians and activists, which denounces the country’s constitutional reform process for not addressing “either democratic principles or the political and social plurality of Cuban society,” noting that it has been drafted “solely by … Continue reading “Intellectuals, Politicians and Activists Denounce Cuban Constitutional Reform Process”

Cuban Writers and Artists Union Will Not Debate Constitutional Reform

EFE/14ymedio, Havana, 5 November 2018 — Cuba’s Union of Writers and Artists (Uneac), the pro-government organization that brings together a large part of the island’s intelligentsia, confirmed on Monday that it will not call on its members to debate the project to reform the Constitution and urged them to go to the meetings in their workplaces … Continue reading “Cuban Writers and Artists Union Will Not Debate Constitutional Reform”

The Single Party, A Relic That (Almost) Nobody Dares To Denounce In The Constitutional Debate

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 25 October 2018 —  Hidden behind the guise of sovereignty and independence, the reality we see is often a model of elements or impositions that come from other latitudes. The reform of the Constitution that is currently being carried out in Cuba is not exempt from these contradictions, presenting as “ours” several points … Continue reading “The Single Party, A Relic That (Almost) Nobody Dares To Denounce In The Constitutional Debate”

Cuban Bishops Will Publish A Pastoral Letter On Constitutional Reform

14ymedio, Havana, September 28, 2018 — The Catholic Church in Cuba is preparing a pastoral letter to make clear its position on the constitutional reform promoted by the Government. In a telephone conversation with this newspaper, Wilfred Pino, archbishop of Camagüey, explained that for the moment each diocese (administrative unit of the Church) is doing … Continue reading “Cuban Bishops Will Publish A Pastoral Letter On Constitutional Reform”

We Will Have an Electoral Law in 2019 but Constitutional Reform Retains One Candidate Per Position

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 16 August 2018 — In view of the deadlines imposed by the draft Constitution in its First Transitional Provision, and knowing that the referendum will take place on February 24, it can be calculated that by September 2019,the Cuban parliament will have approved a new electoral law. If Raul Castro had … Continue reading “We Will Have an Electoral Law in 2019 but Constitutional Reform Retains One Candidate Per Position”

Proceedings to Draft New Constitution Lack Transparency

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, July 10, 2018 — We now know that at its seventh plenary session the Communist Party Central Committee reviewed the draft of the new Cuban constitution. It was reported that the text of the document is now a fait accompli. In the coming days deputies to the National Assembly will approve … Continue reading “Proceedings to Draft New Constitution Lack Transparency”

Paya Denouces the ‘Theater’ of Constitutional Reform on Sixth Anniversary of Her Father’s Death

EFE via 14ymedio, Miami, 23 July 2018 — Cuban Dissident Rosa María Payá stressed to EFE that the legacy of her father, Oswaldo Payá, is still alive six years since his death and the constitutional reform under way in Cuba is, in her opinion, both “theater” and a “trap.” “My father’s words are especially relevant today, … Continue reading “Paya Denouces the ‘Theater’ of Constitutional Reform on Sixth Anniversary of Her Father’s Death”

Reform the Essence of the Constitution, Not the Letter

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 20 July 2018 — Despite the scarcity of information and the absence of public debate that have characterized the process of constitutional reform in Cuba, several civil society groups, the political opposition and the independent press have criticized some postulates announced by the official media. In this context, the draft constitutional … Continue reading “Reform the Essence of the Constitution, Not the Letter”