Change to advance socialism: Notes from the Third Extraordinary Session of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power

Images via Estudios Revolución

By Demetrio Villaurrutia & Héctor Martínez, translated from the Spanish

With the participation, through videoconference, of the leader at the head of the Cuban Revolution, Army General, Raúl Castro Ruz, and led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the Third Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of People's Power in its X Legislature took place this Thursday. It reviewed and approved proposals for economic and social changes, even in the challenging situation Cuba's facing, with the goal of not just surviving, but also of advancing and winning.

In a message to the deputies, conveyed through Political Bureau member and Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Major General José Amado Ricardo Guerra—just as he had done before the Extraordinary Plenary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba leader of the Revolution and Army General Raúl Castro Ruz described the Assembly session as momentous. In endorsing the proposal, he stressed the importance of building the necessary consensus in the times we are living in.

"Their signature on the document serves as clear evidence and an unequivocal expression of their full support for the proposal" said the Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Major General José Amado Ricardo Guerra.

Presided over by Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People's Power, the extraordinary parliamentary session brought together deputies from various regions, some joining via videoconference. Notably present in the plenary was Commander of the Rebel Army, José Ramón Machado Ventura.

Once again, the Convention Center hosted an historic session, backing measures with significant strategic impact on the nation’s economic and social model, without abandoning the ongoing process of building Socialism.

The transformations began with the vision of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, who saw economic changes not as abandoning the Socialist project, but as a way to preserve it. It’s a sovereign effort to adapt economic tools to the country’s current circumstances.

Transformations: a necessary and strategic change

While presenting the document on economic and social changes, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized that the country is going through one of the most challenging periods in its history. This situation has been worsened by reduced fuel supplies and foreign exchange inflows, due to a major intensification of the U.S. economic blockade, which has significantly affected the Government’s efforts to address the national economy’s problems.

Through a broad process of consultations at different levels, proposals were made that have the purpose not only of resisting, but also of advancing and developing.

The document consists of 176 proposals, organized into 23 categories, all connected to the country’s economic and social life.

The proposals include key sectors that sustain the country's development, including agriculture, energy, transportation, foreign trade and tourism.

It also takes into account transformations aimed at modifying the banking and financial system, eliminating obstacles to move towards the more expeditious approval of new economic actors, and enhancing the social responsibility of the latter.

The document explores giving municipalities more powers and autonomy, while also boosting their own capacities in areas like foreign direct investment and exports.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz announced measures to benefit the budgetary sector, including the approval of new provisions to raise minimum wages, introduce employment options that allow workers to benefit within their own workplaces or other spaces, and organize workloads through agreements between employers and employees, among other actions.

Other aspects of economic and social changes involve property relations, the distinction between ownership and management, policies that subsidize people rather than products, adjustments in commerce and gastronomy, and measures to enhance transportation mobility.

Considering digital transformation as one of the key pillars of governance in Cuba, actions would be implemented in the areas of technology, software development, and artificial intelligence.

Marrero Cruz said the document, urgent and essential, aligns perfectly with the government's economic and social program, with each reinforcing the other.

Given the impact of the proposed changes, a major overhaul of control and inspection systems is needed, the Prime Minister said in his speech. To address this, he announced the formation of a group to ensure the proposals’ legal soundness, which won’t require any changes to the Magna Carta.

In his presentation, the Political Bureau member noted that implementing measures always comes with risks and contradictions. For this reason, the State will strengthen oversight of these changes and ensure social protection for vulnerable groups. “We will conduct prior modeling to assess impacts and results, while maintaining corrective proposals and support for the training of key leaders,” he said.

The Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, added that the economic and social transformations aimed at energizing various sectors in the country, open a necessary transformative window.

"The defense of the socialist homeland is our first priority," the head of government asserted. "These transformations do not constitute a deviation from our socialist project, on the contrary, they respond to the logic of its development."

Finally, he said, "Cuba is in the historical period of the construction of Socialism and the ideas of Fidel and Raúl, which is based on the principle that the updating of the economic and social model is aimed at improving the quality of life of our compatriots, where each citizen contributes to seek the prosperous and sustainable country that our people deserve."

Change is not to deny Socialism

An intense and fruitful debate followed the presentation of the proposals for economic and social transformations presented to the National Assembly of People's Power by the member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz.

The deputies shared their thoughts on the proposed measures, emphasizing their importance and the need to implement them quickly given the challenging situation the country is currently facing.

In supporting the transformations, Deputy Félix Martínez Suárez, asserted that Cuba is experiencing an historic moment of its Revolution. The people suffer the conditions of the genocidal U.S. blockade and we are determined to transform the current situation without deviating from the path set since January 1959. The document presented, he said, is a reflection of that objective. Everything we do must be aimed at preserving the conquests of socialism.

Cuba does not kneel even in the face of the U.S. policy of maximum pressure, said Deputy Carlos Miguel Pérez. For decades, Cuba has achieved significant social progress, but there are persistent obstacles that stem not from imperial hostility, but from within ourselves, and they urgently need to be addressed.

He said that for these measures to truly make a difference, there must be public accountability, swift implementation of all proposals, genuine involvement from economists, universities, scientific and research institutions, and most importantly, the people in bringing them to life. It’s essential to support those carrying out these changes and to subsidize people rather than products. The parliamentarian urged the Cuban private sector to show greater commitment to the country and to the growth of its territories and communities. Anyone who prospers in Cuba, he said, has a moral duty to help it. The greatest danger isn’t changing too much, but stopping halfway. In the face of any challenge, he reaffirmed, unity will remain the answer.

Emilio Interián Rodríguez said that today we are making a Revolution, and these changes reflect putting its ideas into action. Now it’s up to us to move fast to tackle the tough situation our people are facing. Regarding the proposed measures on land, he felt they were truly revolutionary and aimed at boosting food production.

“We’re not giving in or bowing to the empire,” said the deputy of Arroyo Naranjo’s capital municipality. “We’re confident that these changes will help improve our economy’s situation.”

Danhiz Diaz Perera stated that two key sentiments align with what most deputies expressed: defending socialism and the nation’s desire to grow while honoring the full dignity of its people. He noted that these proposals are a chance to shape the kind of socialism that looks after every citizen. Representing the municipality of Marianao, he suggested setting up a communication channel so the public can ask questions and better understand these measures.

Regarding municipal autonomy, he suggested it’s time to give territories more resources and strengthen their skills along with those of their leaders. He also urged the creation and reinforcement of control and protection systems to stop the spread of problems like corruption and influence peddling. Concluding, he affirmed that we have the ability to save the homeland, the Revolution, and socialism. There’s still time.

Carlos César Torres, deputy for San Luis in Pinar del Río, pointed out that the proposed transformations come in the midst of a war economy, demanding bold and quick action. He stressed that these changes aren’t a concession to capitalism, but rather a bridge to achieving the socialist mandate. For them to work, he said, it’s key to establish a public system of accountability, with oversight coming not just from institutions but also from the people.

Meanwhile, Deputy Aylin Febles openly expressed her approval, calling the proposals imperfect but essential, and stressing that they are meant for all Cubans, not just a few. She said they will enable greater socialism despite the blockade.

Deputy Leidys María Labrador Herrera emphasized that approving these transformations reaffirms our sovereignty and our commitment to defend our independence, as we Cubans have always done.

In the legal sphere, Deputy Elba Martínez Amador considered that the measures fully align with our laws, impact our legal system, and are consistent with the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

"If today we are proposing these transformations, it is because we have to save the Revolution, economically and socially."

Díaz-Canel: Producing, Creating and Innovating

Speaking as part of the debate, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said that "We are tackling the dilemma of how to continue building the process of socialist construction in a country that has suffered the longest blockade in history by the most powerful power in the world."

He reaffirmed that we are not abandoning Socialism and emphasized the contributions of economists, which included studying experiences from other countries.

"Right now, we’re defending ourselves in a complicated situation," said the Head of State, who noted that "we have reached a moment of maturity in how to perfect our Socialism, something that we began to talk about since the Sixth Congress of the Party."

In his reflections he stated that, "if we want to defend the immense work of social justice that is our heritage, we have to admit that we kept it going not just through political will, but also thanks to resources coming in from abroad, which life eventually showed us was not sustainable."

The president emphasized the need to uphold Socialism in our economy to protect and build upon the social achievements of the Revolution. "What we’re doing is about showing maturity in the debate, not rushing because of the urgency our opponents try to impose. We must keep building socialism, but with transformations. This is the point we needed to reach."

In his reflections, he acknowledged that what we are proposing is challenging due to its scale and the complex conditions under which we are undertaking it. Therefore, "The first thing we need to do is deliver quality services and be thorough—it takes more than just will and principles. We must get out there, produce, and create, and there’s only one way to make it happen: by innovating."

Building on the document

In another speech, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that the document is being enhanced with feedback and contributions: "It’s a process that needs to be enriched with different approaches and opinions to reach a single document that will quickly allow us to move forward with the transformations.".

It is an arduous and complex process: "we have to direct and conduct the entire implementation process based on the proposals that are presented".

He then stated that "this process involves a shift in mindset, beginning with the leadership, as well as changes to our work system.. The main priority is to focus on these proposals and their implementation."

"The call to battle is given, with the conviction that we will be victorious," he concluded.

After the debate on economic and social transformations, Deputy Luis Toledo Santander, secretary of the National Assembly of People's Power, presented the draft agreement, noting the significant changes in the proposals, all aimed at driving major shifts in the nation’s economic and social dynamics. "The transformations do not represent renouncing the social responsibility of the State," he said.

The National Assembly approved and agreed to endorse the economic and social transformations, and where appropriate, to follow up on the implementation schedule of these measures.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC