Cubans went to the polls Sunday to pick new political leaders. As far as elections go, it was another tense, too-close-to-call battle between Communists and some other Communists.
Fifteen thousand seats were up for grabs in this year's municipal assembly race, the first election in two years. In the end, all but 2,100 candidates were selected by 8.2 million voters, some 200,000 more than in 2007, Granma reported.
On the same day, the Ladies in White were accosted, not by the government, but, as Granma gleefully noted, by other Cubans who screamed at them: "This street belongs to Fidel."
Now, you might be saying, a Cuban election? Isn't that an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp or a colorblind Arizonan? But the municipal elections are a big deal within the crazy-pants Cuban government.
It's the only time Cubans have a shot at determining who makes up their
represented leadership. The winning delegates vote for the provincial
assembly delegates, who in turn vote for the national assembly
(their version of the Senate) delegates. Granted, each one of those bodies has about as much power as
a high school Model UN chapter, but that's the way it has worked for El
Maximo for 50 years, and he's sticking to it.
Blogger Yoani Sanchez, writing on Generacion Y, says she hasn't voted in
years. "I went from boredom, to the position of those who
have completely lost confidence in the process of selecting a candidate
for the People's Power. So now I stay home every election Sunday."
(And then, by the way, she posted the most delightful panty
picture ever.)
The 2,100 posts that don't have winners tied or didn't receive
50 percent of the vote. For those of you breathlessly awaiting those
results, there will be a runoff election Sunday, May 2.
