The agencies of the Central State Administration and other state bodies and institutions will begin during the first quarter of this year a “gradual decentralization of powers and transfer of resources to the municipalities and exceptionally to the province“.
The process, defined by the Cuban News Agency (ACN) as having “extraordinary administrative, economic and social scope” was determined by Decree 140/2025, of the Council of Ministers, which will come into force 90 days after being published in the Extraordinary Official Gazette number last December 29 of the year.
This step aims ACNis governed by what is established in the Constitution and consists of “the ttransfer of functions, powers, activities, responsibilities, structures and resources, from the system of entities served by the agencies and bodies, to the municipality and exceptionally to the province.”
The essential objective would be “to implement municipal autonomy through the distribution of powers between the different levels of government, which contributes to the comprehensive, harmonious and sustainable development of the country.”
“It must necessarily be accompanied by the structures, workers and financial and material resources directly linked to the activities and services transferred, which ensure their continuity and efficiency.”
Capacity and right of local bodies
It is carried out in stages, according to criteria that allow for an “adequate and clear allocation of powers and transfers of resources to the territories”, as well as “flexibility and heterogeneity”, by allowing adaptations and adjustments, according to the characteristics of each of them and for the sake of public management “efficient, inclusive and aligned with the needs of the local population”.
Also, the source points out, “subsidiarity is taken into account, based on the fact that The decisions that are made at the local level, closest to the citizen, are those that cannot be made at the central level.recognizing the capacity and right of the local administrative bodies of People’s Power to fulfill their responsibilities.”
Other principles included in the decree are that of equity and integral human developmentgiven that decentralization must take into account its impact on the general well-being and quality of life of people, based on economic growth and citizen participation in government management.
According to the regulations, sectors or activities such as defense and national security are excluded from the process; foreign relations; monetary, exchange, financial, tax and banking policies; public infrastructure of national scope and interest and territorial planning and urban planning, among others.
A temporary national commission, of a governmental nature and chaired by a deputy prime minister, will be in charge of directing, promoting and controlling the development of the decentralization process, the decree itself specifies.
The process is de definitive and binding charactersince once concluded it is irrevocable, cannot be subject to subsequent changes and constitutes an effective obligation for the competent bodies and agencies, the provision states, as highlighted. ACN.
