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Agence France-Presse

Cubans began voting in a referendum on a new constitution Sunday with the backdrop of mounting pressure from the United States and continued support for Venezuela’s socialist regime.
“We Cubans are voting for our new constitution, we’re voting for Latin America and the Caribbean,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said when placing his vote.
“We’re also voting for Venezuela, we’re defending Venezuela because in Venezuela the continent’s dignity is in play.”
More than eight million Cubans are registered to vote in a referendum the government has turned into a plebiscite on the “irrevocable” role of socialism in the island nation.
Some 25,000 electoral colleges opened their doors at 7am on a calm day. Results are expected late Monday.
Diaz-Canel hit out at the presidents of Chile, Colombia and Paraguay for joining Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday in his attempt to force humanitarian aid across the Colombian border into Venezuela.

“A group of presidents on the Colombian border, they look like clowns,” said Diaz-Canel.
Cuba has been trying to galvanise international support for its ally and against American “military aggression.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the humanitarian aid, mostly supplied by Washington, is a smokescreen for a US invasion.
“Today we’re going to have a victory that is ours, that is Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s and also a victory for Venezuela, an important support for Venezuela,” said Diaz-Canel.
Cuba’s vote comes after the latest attack on socialism by US President Donald Trump, who last week said socialist ideology is “dying”.

But analyst Carlos Alzugaray told AFP that Trump’s words served only to boost those voting in favour of the new constitution, which reiterates the central role of socialism and communism in the country.
“Many people, seeing his quotes, will vote yes because they want to defend their independence against the US threat,” said Alzugaray.
US Senator Marco Rubio, whose parents are Cuban, hit out at the Havana regime on Twitter.
“The so-called ‘referendum’ in #Cuba is another manoeuvre by the Cuban dictatorship to hold its grip on power,” he wrote.

The so-called "referendum" in #Cuba is another maneuver by the Cuban dictatorship to hold its grip on power. Today’s plebiscite is nothing more than a farce and a fraud of the communist party. #IllegalConstitution
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2019

“Today’s plebiscite is nothing more than a farce and a fraud of the communist party. #IllegalConstitution.”
The new constitution, replacing the 1976 version, recognises a limited role for the free market and private investment, but only under the control of the Communist Party.
It enshrines socialism as the country’s only ideology, a move criticised by the Catholic Church.
Cuba’s banned opposition, which normally calls for abstention at elections or spoiling ballot sheets, has this time campaigned for a no vote.
“It is obvious that this goes beyond a no to a constitution, it’s a no to a regime that aims to perpetuate itself in power,” dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer told AFP.
The referendum contains only two options: yes or no to the new constitution.
“Two options, one that favours the regime and the other that represents the only opportunity the people have had in years to say no,” added Ferrer.


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US-Cuba relations

Cuba votes in referendum on new constitution that President Miguel Diaz-Canel says is also a ‘vote for Venezuela’

Election officials check the documents of a voter at a polling station during a constitutional referendum in Havana, Cuba. Photo: Reuters

Children wait for voters at a polling station during a constitutional referendum in Havana, Cuba, February 24, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando Medina NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta arrive at a polling station to cast their votes for a constitutional referendum in Havana, Cuba, on February 24, 2019. - Cubans vote on a new constitution for the first time in decades, a poll seen as a possible referendum on the role of socialism itself in the one-party state. More than eight million Cubans are registered to vote on the first new charter since 1976. (Photo by FERNANDO MEDINA / POOL / AFP)

Castro proposes changes to Cuban constitution, including term limits for leaders

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel (second left) applauds as former president Raul Castro arrives at the National Assembly session on July 21, 2018. Photo: AFP

Members of the National Assembly vote during a session to update the current Constitution and present the new Council of Ministers, in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, July 21, 2018. Cuban lawmakers approved the Cabinet named by Diaz-Canel, keeping most of the ministers from Raul Castro's government in place. (Abel Padron/Agencia Cubana de Noticias via AP)

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C), attends the National Assembly's session to present the new Council of Ministers and discuss the draft of 224 articles prepared by a parliamentary committee, at Havana's Convention Palace on July 21, 2018, before submitting the constitutional reforms to a popular vote. Cuban legislators are set to implement sweeping constitutional reforms this weekend that will legally recognize private property and the market economy, as well as encourage foreign investments, but capitalism remains a dirty word. / AFP PHOTO / Jorge BELTRAN

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (L) and Cuban former President Raul Castro (C), attend the National Assembly's session to present the new Council of Ministers and discuss the draft of 224 articles prepared by a parliamentary committee, at Havana's Convention Palace on July 21, 2018, before submitting the constitutional reforms to a popular vote. Cuban legislators are set to implement sweeping constitutional reforms this weekend that will legally recognize private property and the market economy, as well as encourage foreign investments, but capitalism remains a dirty word. / AFP PHOTO / Jorge BELTRAN

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World

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Cuba’s vote comes after the latest attack on socialism by US President Donald Trump, who last week said socialist ideology is ‘dying’


Cuba’s vote comes after the latest attack on socialism by US President Donald Trump, who last week said socialist ideology is ‘dying’.


Venezuela

Venezuelan crisis

Cuba

Cuba votes in referendum on new constitution that President Miguel Diaz-Canel says is also a ‘vote for Venezuela’

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Cuba’s vote comes after the latest attack on socialism by US President Donald Trump, who last week said socialist ideology is ‘dying’

Cuba’s vote comes after the latest attack on socialism by US President Donald Trump, who last week said socialist ideology is ‘dying’