Council of State (Cuba)

The Council of State (Spanish: Consejo de Estado) of Cuba is the permanent organ of the National Assembly of People's Power. It has the authority to exercise most legislative power between sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power, subject to its approval, and to call the National Assembly of People's Power into session between its scheduled twice yearly sessions.

The National Assembly is only in session for a few days each year.[1] Members of the Council of State, which serve in the National Assembly, do not reflect popular outcomes in the elections. According to a 2021 study, under competitive elections, most members of the Council of State might have been defeated.[1]

The membership consists of a President, a Secretary, a First Vice President, five Vice Presidents, and 27 additional members. The President, the Secretary, the First Vice President, and the five Vice Presidents are also members of the Council of Ministers. With the passage of the 2019 Cuban Constitution, the post of President of the Council of State will be to the President of the National Assembly, while the functions of the head of state will be transferred from the Council of State to the restored office of President of the Republic.[2]

9th Council of State (2018–2019)

Rank Name Birth Office Portrait PCC
membership
1 Miguel Díaz-Canel
1960
President, Council of State PB
2 Salvador Valdés Mesa
1945
First Vice President, Council of State
—
PB
3 Ramiro Valdés Menéndez
1932
Vice President, Council of State
—
PB
4 Roberto Tomás Morales Ojeda
1967
Vice President, Council of State
—
PB
5 Gladys María Bejerano Portela
1947
Vice President, Council of State
—
—
6 Inés María Chapman Waugh
1965
Vice President, Council of State
—
—
7 Beatriz Johnson Urrutia
1969
Vice President, Council of State
—
—
8 Homero Acosta Álvarez
1964
Secretary, Council of State
—
—
9 Leopoldo Cintra Frías
1928
—
—
PB
10 Teresa Maria Amarelle Boué
1963
—
—
PB
11 Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento
1964
—
—
PB
12 Miriam Nicado García
1959
—
—
PB
13 Guillermo García Frías
1928
—
—
—
14 Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
1958
—
—
—
15 Martha del Carmen Mesa Valenciana
1960
—
—
—
16 Carlos Rafael Miranda Martínez
1964
—
—
—
17 Susely Morfa González
1982
—
—
—
18 Rafael Antonio Santiesteban
1969
—
—
—
19 Miguel Ángel Barnet Lanza
1928
—
—
—
20 Ileana Amparo Flores Morales
1966
—
—
—
21 Raúl Alejandro Palmero Fernández
1995
—
—
—
22 Jorge Amador Berlanga Acosta
1962
—
—
—
23 Yipsi Moreno
1980
—
—
—
24 Elizabeth Peña
1964
—
—
—
25 Yoerky Sánchez Cuéllar
1983
—
—
—
26 Ivis Niuba Villa Millán
1973
—
—
—
27 Bárbara Alexis Terry Depestre
1972
—
—
—
28 Reyna Salermo Escalona
1965
—
—
—
29 Rosalina Fournier Frómeta
1965
—
—
—
30 Carlos Alberto Martínez Blanco
1969
—
—
—
31 Felicia Martínez Suárez
1963
—
—
—

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Domínguez, Jorge I. (2021). "The Democratic Claims of Communist Regime Leaders: Cuba's Council of State in a Comparative Context". Communist and Post-Communist Studies. 54 (1–2): 45–65. doi:10.1525/j.postcomstud.2021.54.1-2.45. ISSN 0967-067X. S2CID 236365630.
  2. ^ Marc Frank (February 21, 2019). "Explainer: What is old and new in Cuba's proposed constitution". Reuters. Retrieved February 24, 2019.