This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
On Friday and Saturday, Cuba's parliament will meet to appoint a prime minister, a position that has been dormant since 1976. The move is seen as a significant development in the country's political landscape.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel will nominate a candidate for the position, which will then require an absolute majority in a National Assembly vote. The appointment must also be ratified by the Communist Party, led by former president Raul Castro.
The last time Cuba had a prime minister was revolutionary hero Fidel Castro, who held the position from 1959 to 1976. Castro's transition to the presidency marked the abolition of the prime minister position.
"I don't know what his functions will be, I imagine that he'll be helping that poor Diaz-Canel who never stops, going here and there trying to sort out the country," said Maria Fernandez, a 65-year-old pensioner.
The new prime minister will serve as the head of government for a five-year term and will have significant powers, including the ability to hire and fire state employees and control provincial governors.
According to Cuban professor Arturo Lopez-Levy, the appointment of a prime minister may signify a separation of powers, but in Cuba's one-party state, it represents more of a 'separation of functions.'
As the country's parliament prepares to meet, speculation is rife about who will be appointed to the position. Diaz-Canel could choose from any one of five vice presidents, as well as his ministers.
Published on December 19, 2019, by AFP.
