[On line protest] [Events] [Material Aid] [Membership form] [Brigades] [Facts File on Cuba] [Cuba Si! index] [Other Cuba links] [CSC Contact] [Web contact] [Sponsors] [contents overview]

Is Fidel Castro a Dictator?

Any one of the deputies to Cuba's parliament, including Fidel Castro, are subject to recall at any time and must by law report back to mass meeting in their constituency once every six months.
If Castro is such a dictator, why did he receive such overwhelming support in the elections? Why is it also that his position as the country's President is decided by parliament and that members of his government are also voted in by parliament?

Here are some essential facts about the 1993 Elections to the National Assembly.

• The Cuban elections were the occasion for a massive show of resistance and unity in face of the US blockade.
• 99% of the electorate voted
• 7% of the ballots were spoiled.
• Of the 589 deputies, 80% of them were elected for the first time. Their average age is 43.
• 77% are men and 23% are women
• 59 of the deputies are peasants or agricultural workers.
• 46 are industrial or manual workers.
• 23 are trades union leaders.
• 25 are intellectual, artists and journalists.
• 29 are teachers and specialists, 10 are secondary and university student leaders.