New Cuban Parliament will take office on April 19, 2018

Because of the exceptional situation caused by Hurricane Irma, the Cuban Parliament unanimously approved to extend the current period of the VIII Legislature that had to cease its functions on February 24, and the new deputies will take office on April 19, 2018.

At the proposal of the Council of State, the National Assembly of People's Power decided that by virtue of the devastation caused in Cuba by Hurricane Irma and that is established in the Constitution of the Republic, the current Legislature should be extended for two months.

Article 72 stipulates a five-year term for Parliament that "may only be extended by agreement of the Assembly itself in case of war or under other exceptional circumstances that prevent the normal holding of elections and while such circumstances remain."

Deputy Homero Acosta Álvarez, secretary of the Council of State, read the agreement of that entity that assessed the serious effects of the hurricane in the nation and that at the time it was necessary to extend the dates of the first stage of the elections, to extend until March 25 the validity of the current provincial assemblies of Popular Power and for April 19, that of the National.

In the new approved dates the President, Vice President and Secretary of the provincial and National assemblies will be elected, as well as the new members of the Council of State and its presidency.

José Luis Toledo Santander, president of the Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, pointed out that the proposal of the Council of State is covered by articles 72 and 111 of the Constitution of the Republic.

The severe effects of Hurricane Irma caused an exceptionality that is reflected in the Magna Carta, he said.

Toledo Santander pointed out that the reasons given become the basis for the need to extend the term of office of the VIII Legislature to complete the schedule drawn up by the National Electoral Commission, without affecting the quality of the process.