In his words, grass roots representatives, “nominated directly by the citizens, not by a political party,” are periodically subject to the scrutiny of the voters, which is key to guarantee the continued participation of the people in the government.

This process is one of the singularities of the Cuban democratic and participatory model, as reiterated by the secretary of the Council of State in a press conference at the National Capitol, seat of the Parliament of the Caribbean country.

Our electoral system, Acosta explained, does not end with the exercise of suffrage at the polls, “but instead there is a permanent spirit permeating this process of linkage, exchange and evaluation of the representatives’ performance.”

This is one of the most important democratic exercises in the country, he said.

After deferring local neighborhood assemblies in 2023, the Council of State recently called to resume the delegate’s accountability meetings, from September 20 through November 15, 2024.

This is the first period of the current mandate, which began in December 2022, and therefore constitutes the debut for around 50 percent of the delegates.

Acosta pointed out that this process will take place amid a very complex economic and social context, a consequence, among other factors, of the “cumulative effects of the genocidal policy” applied against Cuba by successive US governments.

He outlined some current problems in the country related to scarcity of food, energy, water supply and the basic basket, all of which call for grassroots delegates to perform their duties at their best.