[NYTr] Cuban Election Process: Cubans Speak Out at Nominations

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Cubans Speak out at Nominations

by Mike Fuller

Havana, Sep 2 (Prensa Latina) Packed into a garage space during an
afternoon shower, about 200 neighbors came together in western Havana
to decide who will run in the October 21 elections for municipal
government.

There were three contenders and the coordinator at the table asked
repeatedly through the loudspeaker if anyone had been left out.

"It"s always like this," says Mery Perez Molina, a 69 year-old retired
school teacher.

"Every few years we all come here and decide who"s going to be our
delegate," she says, explaining it"s comfortable for her because she
lives upstairs. Mery"s never missed a vote and says this year seems
about the same as all the others.

One by one, these Havana neighbors go up to the microphone and give
their opinion of the candidate, sometimes overtly disagreeing.

They said one of the runners was great but she has two kids, works and
is studying so maybe she"s not the best for the job.

Raydel Jimeno Liens, a 24 year-old university student, says that since
he started voting his favorite candidate hasn"t always been nominated,
but "if someone else wins they"re not necessarily bad and they might
even do well in their job. I"ve voted for winning and losing
candidates," he says.

The accounting major has been witnessing elections since his childhood
days of the Pioneros, sort of the Cuban version of Scouting for primary
school age children, and is very adamant to say "I have never seen any
abnormalities." Talking to these people reminds me of the Michael Moore
film Sicko, with the looks of incredulity on socialized medicine users
in Canada and Europe as he asks them how much they pay for doctor
visits.

Yasley Velasco Gonzalez, 28 and learning how to operate the attractions
at Havana"s newest amusement park, says this election is like all the
rest, in which she has always voted.

"I hope it"s someone who deserves it," she says as the hands fly and
about 100 votes are counted among the three candidates, one with
double the other and the third with just one vote.

But strange looks fly when he is asked about his platform.

The folks from the municipal electoral commission explain he won;t be
commenting, as all pre-election propaganda is prohibited, and
candidates are judged only by brief publicly posted biographies.

The board members say what's important is one"s "attitude in society,
mental capacity and good communication skills." But it"s funny.

The lobbying, posters and slush funds are not missed.

Mike Fuller can be reached at mikeprensalatina at yahoo.com 

ef mf PL-7