Hare Discusses Cuban Parliamentary Elections
In an interview with Latin American Advisor, Ambassador Paul Hare, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, commented on the upcoming Cuban elections and their ramifications for the government.
Within this set of elections, Cuban votes will decide on members of the National Assembly of the People’s Power and then, later in the year, decide on a president. In the article, titled “What Will This Month’s Elections Say About Cuba?,” Hare discussed the National Assembly elections and the longevity of Cuba’s government in choosing its electoral candidates, despite the government’s claims of these elections being fair and democratic. Hare described the selection process for candidates and their overall efficacy in representing their districts before turning to the subject of the Cuban Presidential Elections. Hare stated his expectations for the re-election of the incumbent, saying:
“President Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Marrero have shown reluctance to improve the interaction and accountability between government and people. Their conservatism will likely be enough to get them re-elected later this year. These are the first such elections since Covid, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and recent extreme economic crises. Many will be watching for abstentions and protest votes if the true results are released without government messaging.”
Read the full article here.
Ambassador Paul Hare was a British diplomat for 30 years and the British ambassador to Cuba from 2001-04. He now teaches classes at Boston University on Diplomatic Practice, Arms Control, Intercultural Communication, and on Cuba in Transition. His novel, “Moncada — A Cuban Story,” set in modern Cuba, was published in 2010. His book, “Making Diplomacy Work; Intelligent Innovation for the Modern World” was published in 2015. Learn more about Professor Hare on his faculty profile.