List of political parties in Cuba
Though Cuba is often considered a "single party state", in reality there are several parties following various ideologies.
All the people in the National Assembly of People's Power, the parliament of Cuba, are legally elected in democratic elections.
Current legal parties
- Communist Party of Cuba (Partido Comunista de Cuba)
- Cuban Liberal Movement (Partido Liberal Nacional de Cuba)
- Cuban Liberal Union (Unión Liberal Cubana, member LI)
- Christian Democratic Party of Cuba (Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba)
- Cuban Democratic Socialist Current (Corriente Socialista Democratica Cubana)
- Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba (Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático de Cuba)
- Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democrática, member LI)
- Liberal Party of Cuba (Partido Liberal de Cuba, observer LI)
- Social Democratic Co-ordination of Cuba (Coordinadora Social Demócrata de Cuba)
- Orthodox Renovation Party (Partido de la Renovaccion Ortodoxa)
Defunct parties
Some old parties have disbanded or have been banned by the Cuban government because of its earlier history.
- Cuban National Party (Partido Nacional Cubano)
- Cuban People's Party (Partido Orthodoxo) (Partido del Pueblo Cubano (Partido Ortodoxo))
- Cuban Revolutionary Party - Autentico (Partido Revolucionario Cubano Auténtico)
- Democratic Union Party (Partido Unión Democrática)
- Havana Republican Party (Partido Republicano de La Habana)
- Independent Republic Party (Partido Republicano Independiente)
- Progressive Action Party (Partido Acción Progresista) (banned)
- Socialist People's Party (Partido Socialista Popular) (in Communist Party)
- United Action Party (Partido Acción Unitaria) (banned)
Electoral process
Since 1976, parliamentary elections are most often held every 5th year. The last time was January 20, 2008.
In the elections, individuals are elected to the National Assembly. Many candidates are partipating in these elections. Most of them are either from the Cuban Communist Party or is not member of any party, but some are from the opposition parties too.
Cuba also features local elections, where the chairman of that municipality is elected. Though local leaders and members of the national assembly are elected by the whole election, the Cuban president can't be elected by the whole population, but is chosen by the elected representatives in the National Assembly of People's Power. That means that the president is, in practice, also elected. [1]
The Christian Democratic Party of Cuba is the second greatest party after the currently ruling Communist Party.