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Cuba congress says state's 'obsolete mentality' is holding back economy Cuba congress says state's 'obsolete mentality' is holding back economy
(4 months later)
Some of Cuba’s most powerful officials have criticised the creaking inefficiency of its state-controlled economy but identified its vibrant private sector as a potential source of US subversion.Some of Cuba’s most powerful officials have criticised the creaking inefficiency of its state-controlled economy but identified its vibrant private sector as a potential source of US subversion.
The comments on Monday illustrated the conundrum faced by a Cuban government simultaneously trying to modernise and maintain control in a new era of detente with Washington.The comments on Monday illustrated the conundrum faced by a Cuban government simultaneously trying to modernise and maintain control in a new era of detente with Washington.
The Cuban Communist party ended the third day of its twice-a-decade congress with a vote for the 114-member central committee, which in turn selects the powerful 15-member political bureau. The bureau’s first and second secretaries are the country’s top officials.The Cuban Communist party ended the third day of its twice-a-decade congress with a vote for the 114-member central committee, which in turn selects the powerful 15-member political bureau. The bureau’s first and second secretaries are the country’s top officials.
Monday’s vote, like the rest of the congress, was open only to 1,000 delegates, 280 hand-selected guests and state journalists, whose reports revealed virtually no concrete details of the policies that will guide the government for the next five years.Monday’s vote, like the rest of the congress, was open only to 1,000 delegates, 280 hand-selected guests and state journalists, whose reports revealed virtually no concrete details of the policies that will guide the government for the next five years.
The congress has been criticised for its extreme secrecy by ordinary Cubans and even members of the Communist party itself. State media said the results of the voting would be revealed on Tuesday.The congress has been criticised for its extreme secrecy by ordinary Cubans and even members of the Communist party itself. State media said the results of the voting would be revealed on Tuesday.
Related: Prospective leaders of Cuba should retire at 70, says Raúl Castro
The Cuban president and first party secretary, Raúl Castro, opened the meeting on Saturday with a sombre evaluation of the state of reforms he introduced after taking over from his ailing brother Fidel in 2008. Raúl Castro blamed “an obsolete mentality” and “attitude of inertia” for the state’s failure to implement reforms meant to increase productivity.The Cuban president and first party secretary, Raúl Castro, opened the meeting on Saturday with a sombre evaluation of the state of reforms he introduced after taking over from his ailing brother Fidel in 2008. Raúl Castro blamed “an obsolete mentality” and “attitude of inertia” for the state’s failure to implement reforms meant to increase productivity.
First Vice-President Miguel Díaz-Canel, long seen as Castro’s successor, repeated that criticism of the bureaucracy in a speech on Monday announcing the congress’s formal acceptance of Castro’s evaluation. He said obsolete ways of thinking led both to inertia in enacting reforms and “a lack of confidence in the future”.First Vice-President Miguel Díaz-Canel, long seen as Castro’s successor, repeated that criticism of the bureaucracy in a speech on Monday announcing the congress’s formal acceptance of Castro’s evaluation. He said obsolete ways of thinking led both to inertia in enacting reforms and “a lack of confidence in the future”.
“Along with other deficiencies, there’s a lack of readiness, high standards and control, and little foresight or initiative from sectors and bureaucrats in charge of making these goals a reality,” Díaz-Canel said in an excerpt of a speech broadcast on state television.“Along with other deficiencies, there’s a lack of readiness, high standards and control, and little foresight or initiative from sectors and bureaucrats in charge of making these goals a reality,” Díaz-Canel said in an excerpt of a speech broadcast on state television.
However, lengthy state media reports on the four-day congress focused less on proposals for reform than on debates about political orthodoxy focusing on the need to protect Cuba’s socialist system from the threat of global capitalism and US influence in particular.However, lengthy state media reports on the four-day congress focused less on proposals for reform than on debates about political orthodoxy focusing on the need to protect Cuba’s socialist system from the threat of global capitalism and US influence in particular.
A month after Barack Obama’s visit to Havana, the first by a US president in nearly 90 years, Cuban leaders have begun to consistently portray his trip as an attempt to seduce Cubans into abandoning the country’s socialist values in favour of a desire for free markets and multiparty democracy.A month after Barack Obama’s visit to Havana, the first by a US president in nearly 90 years, Cuban leaders have begun to consistently portray his trip as an attempt to seduce Cubans into abandoning the country’s socialist values in favour of a desire for free markets and multiparty democracy.
On Saturday, Castro said “the enemy” was targeting young people, intellectuals, the poor and the 500,000 members of Cuba’s new private sector as vulnerable to persuasion.On Saturday, Castro said “the enemy” was targeting young people, intellectuals, the poor and the 500,000 members of Cuba’s new private sector as vulnerable to persuasion.
On Monday, the foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, went further, calling Obama’s visit “an attack on the foundation of our history, our culture and our symbols”.On Monday, the foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, went further, calling Obama’s visit “an attack on the foundation of our history, our culture and our symbols”.
“Obama came here to dazzle the non-state sector, as if he wasn’t the representative of big corporations but the defender of hot dog vendors, of small businesses in the United States, which he isn’t,” Rodríguez said.“Obama came here to dazzle the non-state sector, as if he wasn’t the representative of big corporations but the defender of hot dog vendors, of small businesses in the United States, which he isn’t,” Rodríguez said.
Aged 55 and 58, respectively, Díaz-Canel and Rodríguez are members of the generation expected to move into the highest ranks of power in Cuba as early as Tuesday when the congress’s vote is announced.Aged 55 and 58, respectively, Díaz-Canel and Rodríguez are members of the generation expected to move into the highest ranks of power in Cuba as early as Tuesday when the congress’s vote is announced.
Castro said on Saturday that he was proposing an age limit of 60 for election to the central committee and 70 for lower-ranking but important posts in the party.Castro said on Saturday that he was proposing an age limit of 60 for election to the central committee and 70 for lower-ranking but important posts in the party.
Castro is 84 and his second secretary, hardliner José Ramón Machado Ventura, is 85.Castro is 84 and his second secretary, hardliner José Ramón Machado Ventura, is 85.