The Cuban plenipotentiary to Banjul has confirmed that members of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba will, on Sunday, elect a president for the next five-year term.

Ambassador Carlos Salsamendi made this statement, yesterday, during a press conference at the Cuban Embassy, where he also elaborated on the electoral process of the Cuban democracy.

President Fidel Castro, who bravely led the Cuban Revolution in 1959, is running for re-election after his nomination in Santiago De Cuba - the second largest city located in the eastern region of the Caribbean paradise. The city is known to be the cradle of the Cuban revolution.

Ambassador Salsamendi revealed that the National Assembly of People's Power will also elect the first vice presidents and other members of the Council of State.

"The National Assembly elects from its elected members the Council of State and its President (Head of State), first vice-president, other vice-presidents and secretaries. General elections take place in two stages. First, elections to municipal assemblies (held last October). In the second stage, three months later (next January 20) elections to provincial assemblies and National Assembly," he explained

He said Cuba has 169 municipal assemblies and 14 provincial assemblies, who also elect their presidents and vice-presidents.

Mr Salsamendi stressed that the Cuban electoral system - established under the 1976 Constitution, which was approved in a referendum by more than 95% of the eligible voters - is "authentic, genuine and unique, not copied from anywhere else.

It is based on the principle that the citizens are the ones entitled to propose and nominate the candidates. All registered citizens, except those living abroad or serving sentences, are eligible to be proposed and nominated by neighbours at open meetings in 50,600 nomination areas all around the country".

He then further elaborated: "The Cuban Communist Party does not propose, nominate, promote or help any candidate. Six of the main mass and social organisations (Cuban Federation of Workers, Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, Federation of Cuban Women, National Association of Small Farmers, Federation of University Students and Federation of Basic and Secondary Schools Students) can propose candidates to the provincial and national assemblies out of the delegates of the municipal assemblies."

Noting that voting is not compulsory, the ambassador indicated that the voting process is conducted secretly.

"Voters' registration is automatic (age requirement: 16 years), free and public. All citizens have access to the registration list in their respective constituencies. To be elected, 50% or more of valid votes is required. But those elected can be revoked at any time by the citizens at their constituency. They must periodically report to them about their performance," he said.

"There is no political campaigning. Candidates are not allowed to ask for them to be elected nor can they hand out any amount of money in order to be known. The state covers all the elections expenses. The citizens have the right - and they make use of it - to be present at the moment of votes tally. Except in few occasions, delegates and deputies are not paid salaries as such. They are paid according to the job they have. In other words, they are not professional politicians.

National Assembly of People's Power is the supreme body of the state powers, and the provincial and municipal assemblies in their territories. The executive body (Council of Ministers) can not dissolve the National Assembly nor can it veto laws passed by it," Carlos told journalists.

"All sectors of the society - workers, peasants, students, teachers and professors, members of the armed forces, doctors, scientists, religious leaders, retirees, housewives, self-employed persons, etc. - are represented at the National Provincial and Municipal assemblies. At least, 50% of the candidates to the National Assembly must come out of the delegates at the municipal assemblies."

Cuba's recent history has proven that the "free and multi-party system" which was imposed on it was a "fake".