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Cubans vote in municipal election Cuba begins its election process
(about 6 hours later)
Millions of Cubans have been to the polls in elections to choose more than 15,000 municipal council members. Millions of Cubans have voted in municipal polls, starting an election cycle that could decide if Fidel Castro will officially stay Cuba's leader.
It was the beginning of a process that will culminate in delegates electing a new National Assembly next March. The electoral process will culminate next March in the election of a new National Assembly.
The assembly will then choose the Council of State, which President Fidel Castro has led since the early 1960s.The assembly will then choose the Council of State, which President Fidel Castro has led since the early 1960s.
These were the first elections since Mr Castro temporarily handed over power to his younger brother, Raul, for health reasons over 14 months ago. Mr Castro temporarily handed power to his younger brother, Raul, for health reasons more than 14 months ago.
Cuban media reported that Fidel Castro, who last year had intestinal surgery and has not been seen in public since, cast his own ballot in private at the undisclosed location where he is recuperating.
Voting is not obligatory but Cuban officials said they expected there had been a 90% turnout.
The communist government in Cuba describes its electoral system, which was enshrined in the constitution of 1976, as one of the freest and fairest in the world, where almost anyone can be elected to a municipal council or national assembly seat.The communist government in Cuba describes its electoral system, which was enshrined in the constitution of 1976, as one of the freest and fairest in the world, where almost anyone can be elected to a municipal council or national assembly seat.
'Cosmetic exercise'
However, critics like the US and the EU, along with dissidents on the island, disagree.However, critics like the US and the EU, along with dissidents on the island, disagree.
They say the electoral process in Cuba is merely a cosmetic democratic exercise, which has no place for government opponents, as it is fully overseen by the country's ruling Communist Party.They say the electoral process in Cuba is merely a cosmetic democratic exercise, which has no place for government opponents, as it is fully overseen by the country's ruling Communist Party.
Raul Castro has been in charge for nearly a year Raul Castro took over as acting president at the end of July last yearThe municipal elections for some 15,236 council members begins a process that will culminate in a new National Assembly and the selection of 31 members of Cuba's Council of State.
This latest round of municipal elections was expected to see as many as 95% of voters on the Caribbean island turn out. It could be then that a decision is taken on whether Raul Castro should officially replace 81-year-old Fidel as president of the island's supreme governing body.
The poll has been given added significance because it is the first since Raul Castro took over as acting president in place of the 81-year-old Fidel at the end of July last year. Since Raul Castro took over as acting president at the end of July last year, the status quo has reigned in Cuba and there has been no sign that the ruling Communist Party has lost any of its hold on power.
Since then, the status quo has reigned in Cuba and there has been no sign that the country's ruling Communist Party has lost any of its hold on power.
This is despite predictions to the contrary from Washington and the leadership of the Cuban exile community in Miami.This is despite predictions to the contrary from Washington and the leadership of the Cuban exile community in Miami.
But in a sign that it recognises its system is one primarily governed by ageing revolutionaries, the Communist Party urged young Cubans to stand for municipal council seats in the hope of pumping younger blood into the government's ageing political structure.But in a sign that it recognises its system is one primarily governed by ageing revolutionaries, the Communist Party urged young Cubans to stand for municipal council seats in the hope of pumping younger blood into the government's ageing political structure.
Cuban media said Fidel Castro cast his ballot at the secret location where he is recovering from intestinal surgery. On Wednesday, US President George W Bush is due to unveil what the White House calls new initiatives to help Cubans push for democracy.