List of political parties in Cuba
Encyclopedia
This article lists political parties
in Cuba
.
The role of the Communist Party of Cuba
is enshrined in the constitution
. No party is permitted to campaign or endorse candidates for election
, including the Communist Party. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum
basis without formal party involvement, though elected assemblies predominantly consist of members of the dominant party alongside non-affiliated candidates.
All of the parties with the exception of the Communist Party of Cuba are unprovided for by the Constitution, thereby making such parties unlawful. However, while no stipulation exists giving citizens the right to form such organizations, no law exists restricting or prohibiting that right. As a result, political rallies by opposition parties occur sporadically on the island.
Cuban law also stipulates that it is punishable to receive funds from a foreign government for purposes of a political organization. This has led to many members of opposition parties being arrested on allegations of accepting money from the United States government, leading to the impression, or proof (depending on one's interpretation,) that political parties other than the Communist Party are legally punishable to operate or be a part of. The Cuban government maintains that all of its "political dissidents" are imprisoned based on accepting funds primarily from the government of the US, not their political beliefs. This has been rejected by opponents of the Cuban government who defend receiving the money as necessary for "democracy to flower" in Cuba, or who deny the allegations in their entirety.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
The role of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
is enshrined in the constitution
Constitution of Cuba
Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had five constitutions. The current constitution was drafted in 1976 and has since been amended.-1901 Constitution:The 1901 Constitution was Cuba's first as an independent state...
. No party is permitted to campaign or endorse candidates for election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
, including the Communist Party. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
basis without formal party involvement, though elected assemblies predominantly consist of members of the dominant party alongside non-affiliated candidates.
- Communist Party of CubaCommunist Party of CubaThe Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
(Partido Comunista de Cuba) - Cuban Liberal MovementCuban Liberal MovementThe Cuban Liberal Movement is a liberal party in Cuba, founded in 2004. The party's Headquarters are in Havana.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties...
(Partido Liberal Nacional de Cuba) - Cuban Liberal UnionCuban Liberal UnionThe Cuban Liberal Union is a liberal party in Cuba. The party is a member of Liberal International.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy*Liberalism in Cuba...
(Unión Liberal Cubana, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - Christian Democratic Party of CubaChristian Democratic Party of CubaThe Christian Democratic Party of Cuba is a Christian Democratic political party in Cuba. Although changes to the Cuban constitution in 1992 decriminalized the act of forming political parties other than the Communist Party of Cuba, these parties are not permitted to campaign or engage in any...
(Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba) - Cuban Democratic Socialist CurrentCuban Democratic Socialist CurrentThe Cuban Democratic Socialist Current is a Cuban social democratic party that sees to "be critical to our historical process hegemony within civil society debate of ideas, intents and purposes over the interests and diversity of proposals, what contributes to its richness, within a single space...
(Corriente Socialista Democratica Cubana) - Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of CubaDemocratic Social-Revolutionary Party of CubaThe Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba is a democratic socialist political party in Cuba...
(Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático de Cuba) - Democratic Solidarity PartyDemocratic Solidarity PartyThe Democratic Solidarity Party is a political liberal party in Cuba. Although changes to the Cuban constitution in 1992 decriminalized the right to form political parties other than the Communist Party of Cuba, these parties are not permitted to campaign or engage in any public political...
(Partido Solidaridad Democrática, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - Liberal Party of Cuba (Partido Liberal de Cuba, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - Social Democratic Co-ordination of CubaSocial Democratic Co-ordination of CubaThe Social Democratic Co-ordination of Cuba is an illegal political party in Cuba....
(Coordinadora Social Demócrata de Cuba) - Orthodox Renovation PartyOrthodox Renovation PartyOrthodox Renovation Party is a political party in Cuba.-External links:*...
(Partido de la Renovaccion Ortodoxa)
All of the parties with the exception of the Communist Party of Cuba are unprovided for by the Constitution, thereby making such parties unlawful. However, while no stipulation exists giving citizens the right to form such organizations, no law exists restricting or prohibiting that right. As a result, political rallies by opposition parties occur sporadically on the island.
Cuban law also stipulates that it is punishable to receive funds from a foreign government for purposes of a political organization. This has led to many members of opposition parties being arrested on allegations of accepting money from the United States government, leading to the impression, or proof (depending on one's interpretation,) that political parties other than the Communist Party are legally punishable to operate or be a part of. The Cuban government maintains that all of its "political dissidents" are imprisoned based on accepting funds primarily from the government of the US, not their political beliefs. This has been rejected by opponents of the Cuban government who defend receiving the money as necessary for "democracy to flower" in Cuba, or who deny the allegations in their entirety.