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Cuba debates future of socialist model

Xinhua, June 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Cuba's government on Wednesday launched a national consultation to debate the future of Cuban-style socialism.

"What has begun to happen this June 15 will lead to Cubans defining and participating in their future," said an editorial in state daily Granma.

The debate invites Cubans from all sectors to study and recommend, if necessary, changes to two key documents: a Draft Conceptualization of the Cuban Economic and Social Model and the National Economic and Social Development Plan through 2030.

"What emerges from this great discussion will go to the (Communist Party of Cuba) Central Committee meeting next December for approval, and then the National Assembly of People's Power, and produce improved documents," the editorial said.

As part of this "process of democratic consultation across Cuban society," the documents will be submitted for "discussion by members of the Party and Young Communist League, representatives of mass organizations and broad sectors of Cuban society."

Debates will center around the question of "how to achieve the country we desire, once the economic and social model has been updated," the editorial said, referring to the modernization drive spearheaded by President Raul Castro.

The editorial underscored Cuba's commitment to a socialist model guided by the principle that "no one will be left to their own fate, unprotected," and that "decisions made with regard to the Cuban economy will never, under any circumstance, mean a break with the ideals of equality and social justice."

What the party seeks is to perfect "social ownership of the means of production" by considering the appropriate reforms.

To that end, the editorial noted, at the recent 7th Party Congress, Castro asked that the Central Committee be granted "the authority to make any necessary modifications that may result from the consultation process."

In recent years, Cuba has moved away from a tightly centralized economic system as a means to boost production and efficiency.

"I believe that Cuba is among a small number of countries in the world with the conditions in place to transform its economic model," Castro said at the 6th Party Congress in 2011. Endit