How Cuba's Parliament Will Conduct Its Ordinary Session Period

The National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) will hold its next Ordinary Session of Parliament for a single day, on December 18, via videoconference, with an agenda focused on economic and legislative matters, parliamentary authorities announced yesterday on the television program Mesa Redonda.

The Secretary of the ANPP and of the Council of State, Homero Acosta, noted that the Constitution establishes the holding of two ordinary parliamentary sessions each year, which have been maintained even in exceptional situations, as occurred during the pandemic when they were conducted via videoconference.

Furthermore, José Luis Toledo Santander, president of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Commission, reported that the study of a group of laws is planned for the coming year, four of which belong to the current legislative schedule and are in different phases of development.

He also explained that during the session period, the ratification of decree-laws and a group of agreements from the Council of State will take place.

The coordinator of the commissions, Marta Hernández Romero, clarified that, on this occasion, the permanent working commissions will meet in a reduced composition.

She detailed that some commissions will meet at the National Capitol and others at the headquarters of organizations, using videoconferencing as the main method. The results of the discussions will subsequently be shared with all deputies, who retain the right to comment on the agreements adopted.

She added that the commissions will continue evaluating in the coming months the results of the Government Program to correct distortions, with an emphasis on confronting crime and on social policy.

For his part, the president of the Economic Affairs Commission, Félix Martínez Suárez, explained that the session period will prioritize two fundamental areas: the legislative and the economic.

Regarding the latter, he highlighted the analysis of the economic plan and the draft State Budget Law for the coming year.

Homero Acosta reiterated that those matters not addressed in this session will continue their analysis in subsequent stages, according to decisions adopted by the Council of State.

He added that coordination between the activity of the Government, its attributions, and the functions of the Assembly is being strengthened, achieving progress in unity to fulfill each of its roles.