“Today we ratify and defend the socialism we are constructing,” said Mercedes López Acea, first secretary of the Communist Party in Havana and member of its Political Bureau, as well as a Council of State vice president, after voting early this morning at polling station no.1 in Constituency no. 60, in the Havana municipality of Playa’s Atabey neighborhood.
She emphasized that voting for delegates to Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power safeguards the rights of Cubans and validates the country’s participative democracy.
“Among those nominated are young people, women, workers in a variety of occupations – the most authentic of our people. This is an opportunity for all of us together to make the homeland stronger, on the basis of what all Cuban men and women want,” she added.
In reference to the important changes underway in Cuban society, López Acea said that the updating of Cuba’s economic model will advance in accordance with the work and dedication all Cuban men and women put to the task, saying, “Difficulties exist and have been identified, now we must work to resolve them.”
“We are responsible for constructing, day by day, a better society for the people. With these kinds of elections, we demonstrate the true value of the Revolution, since it was won and is being constructed by the people themselves, these people which everyday struggle, work and make an effort, from early morning hours, to fulfill their modest duty,” she insisted.
Referring to the significance of the date – April 19, when Cuba defeated the U.S. sponsored invasion at the Bay of Pigs – López said that what Cubans are doing today is a way to honor those who gave their lives in 1961, “This date is one of pride which further unites us as Cubans, honoring the struggle at Playa Girón, the homeland, and the history we all share.”
