HAVANA.- The Cuban Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) declared the general elections held on October 25 in the Grand Lodge of Cuba (GLC), in which José Manuel Valdés Menéndez-Cuesta was elected as the new Grand Master.
With this decision, the state institution ends months of tension and officially withdraws its support for Mayker Filema, who had remained in office since May despite having been dismissed by the Masonic membership itself. Its permanence was only possible thanks to the support of the MINJUS.
Resolution 7, signed by Miriam García Mariño, director of Associations of the ministry, responds to the documentation presented by the new officials after what happened in the Session of the Masonic High Chamber on October 25. That day, although Filema delayed the start of the session and abandoned it when the elections were demanded, the Freemasons managed to organize and carry them out.
It was the second time that Filema refused to comply with the provisions for the renewal of senior positions, in a clear attempt to perpetuate himself in power. He had also suspended several sessions of the Upper House to buy time.
According to the MINJUS, the unity shown by the representatives in the Upper House demonstrated that Filema’s position “disregarded the will of the majority” and sought to “irresponsibly and indefinitely delay” the institutional functioning.
The ministry urged those elected to “achieve unity, institutionality and a correct development of the transition process” in accordance with Masonic legislation.
According to Law 54 of Associations, it is up to the MINJUS to approve or not the agreements of the GLC and its Upper Chamber.
The decision implies that Filema must permanently leave the institution, despite the fact that he continued visiting lodges and appearing normal. Thus concludes a period of strong internal tensions and friction with the State, publicly exposed in a press conference held by the GLC. In parallel, State Security He summoned and threatened several leaders of the revolt.
One of the most critical moments occurred on July 6, when around 200 Masons gathered at the GLC headquarters to prevent Filema from continuing to hold office.
“The message of the MINJUS means our freedom; we lived under a dictatorship, that of Filema. It is an unprecedented event in our institution,” a Freemason told CubaNet on condition of anonymity.
Another Masonic source added: “The interference will continue, of course, but not so blatantly. We Masons demonstrate that with unity, firmness and courage freedom can be achieved.”
A third interviewee, also alluding to the case of Mario Urquía—Filema’s predecessor and also supported by the MINJUS despite internal rejection—considered that what happened in these almost two years “removed the foundations of the Order in Cuba” and forced the regime to “put out the fire” in the face of the strength shown by the membership.
