Cuba will have a new Constitution that will recognise private ownership in the Cuban society. The current constitution of Cuba only recognises a state, cooperative, farmer, personal and joint venture. By the end of the year, the project will be placed in a national referendum before returning to parliament for final approval.
Presenting the new constitution, Secretary of State Homero Acosta said she already includes the recognition of private property – something that the Communist Party has condemned as a remanence of capitalism.
The changes to the main law will justify the reforms undertaken by the new President Miguel Diaz-Kanel, who replaced Raul Castro earlier this year. The current Cuban Constitution was adopted in 1976 and there is a clause that the country’s ultimate goal is to build a communist society.
Large-scale changes are envisaged in all aspects of socio-economic life. The new constitution will establish the status of the many small businesses in the country more clearly, recognising private ownership. It will set up a prime minister position, along with the president, as well as limit the right to hold the High State position up to two five-year terms and legalise the same-sex marriages.
However, the role of the Communist Party as a single political force is maintained. The removal of the idea of building a communist society, at the expense of socialism, reflects the change in the times after the end of the Soviet Union, but does not mean a departure from the ideas of the Communist Party. Authorities recall that the government spent 51 percent of its national budget for education, health and social assistance during last year.
“Imperialism and oligarchy are in offensive against the left-wing governments in Latin America”, said President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the 58-year-old Electrical Engineer, who replaced Raul Castro in April. “Today, more than ever, we require the unity of our people to face this imperialist and reaction threat.”
The reforms have slowed over recent years against the background of fears that they have allowed some Cubans to get rich, encouraging inequality and weakening state control. This month, Cuba issued regulations on tightening the state control over the private sector, as well as restricting the issuing of business licenses to one per person. The new changes aim to stabilise the regime and create more favourable conditions for business, which in turn would reduce the number of dissatisfied and prevent more serious risks for the government.
At the end of last year, during a meeting between Cuban Ambassador in Sofia, H.E. Pedro Pablo San Horche Rodriguez and the Mayor of Varna, Mr Ivan Portnich, was discussed the possibility of opening a direct airline between Varna and Havana, since nearly 30% of the travelers to the Cuban capital via Istanbul airport are coming from Bulgaria.
