The opposition leader will formally assume the presidency of the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) as of next January 10.
HAVANA, Cuba. – “I do not assume the presidency of the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) from the ideological perspective that identifies me, which is that of a social democrat, because the Council is a plural, diverse project and where there is a representation of many visions and many perspectives,” declared to CubaNet Manuel Cuesta Morúa, recently elected president of that coalition.
According to the vision of the opponent, who will formally take office as of January 10 of next year, the country has three fundamental challenges: human rights, rule of law and democratic culture.
“People have always understood and always tell me that I am ‘a man of the left’ and that I am going to lead the CTDC ‘through the left zone’, and that is not the case,” said the analyst.
Elections within the CTDC were held between December 11 and 15. Until then, The president of the coalition was the opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer.
“We decided that we must respond and respect the very institutionality that we gave ourselves, and we held the elections with an independent, autonomous electoral commission, which was the one that organized the process,” Cuesta Morúa explained to this medium.
“Responding to one of the most fundamental decisions of the Council, that the presidency should be within Cuba, José Daniel somehow declined to run again as president; he greatly defended this criterion, and it is a decision that honors him because it corresponds coherently with the nature of the Council,” he added.
When the CTDC was created in 2021, statutes were also established that provide that open elections must be held every two years for the different representative and elective positions of the Council: presidency and six vice-presidencies (four inside Cuba and two in exile).
“Actually these are the first elections that we could consider as such, because the first were when the Council was constituted, in which we decided who should represent the Council at that time; and the unanimous decision fell on José Daniel Ferrer as president and Félix Navarro as first vice president,” recalled Cuesta Morúa.
Precisely, the new executive will once again count on Félix Navarro, who is currently imprisoned. Furthermore, within the Island it is made up of Osvaldo Navarro, Juan Alberto de la Nuez and Marthadela Tamayo. Abroad, Elena Larrinaga and Iris Ruiz will take over as vice presidents.
The new presidency of the CTDC has several plans to continue directing this platform. On the one hand, continue with the proposals and projects on which the Council has worked. “Basically we are fighting to carry out a bill of amnesty and decriminalization of dissent that we believe is fundamental for the release of prisoners for political reasons,” said Cuesta Morúa.
The coalition also aims to establish and expand citizen assemblies in several communities (the initiative currently has 171 assemblies established throughout the country).
“And a third proposal has to do with the issue of violence in Cuba, that is, working against violence in all its manifestations because in a climate like this there is no possibility of a democratic transition anywhere,” added the opposition leader.
Cuesta Morúa added that “there are also internal issues that have to do with the improvement of institutions and citizen participation. In the end, it is the citizens who must define the direction that the country should take in the future,” added the political scientist.
The Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba currently brings together around 35 projects or organizations, in addition to 12 independent actors, who seek a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba and respect for human rights.
