New constitution in Cuba will recognise free market and private property
But the Cuban Communist Party, led by Miguel Diaz-Canel, remains ‘the superior leading force of society and the state’
Havana — Socialist Cuba is planning a series of potentially far-reaching changes, with a new constitution set to recognise the free market and private property, while dividing political powers between a president and a prime minister. In a reform of the island nation’s 1976 constitution expected to be quickly approved, the fundamental means of production will remain under central control, but foreign investment will be recognised as an important spur to development, according to details of the document published Saturday by the official newspaper Granma. But the Communist Party will remain "the superior leading force of society and of the state". The proposed changes come as Miguel Diaz-Canel, a former provincial leader, is in only his third month as Cuban president, succeeding two icons of Cuba’s revolutionary generation, Raul Castro and before him his brother, Fidel Castro. The draft constitution says the Council of Ministers, effectively the island’s government, "will be under th...
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