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| Cuba to recognise private property under new constitution | Cuba to recognise private property under new constitution |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Cuba will officially recognise private property for the first time in decades under a new constitution featuring far-reaching changes, state media say. | |
| Property sales were banned after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, but permitted after a law change in 2011. | Property sales were banned after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, but permitted after a law change in 2011. |
| The communist-run state's new constitution will reaffirm that central planning and state enterprise are key to the economy. | The communist-run state's new constitution will reaffirm that central planning and state enterprise are key to the economy. |
| It is expected to be approved by a vote at the national assembly next week. | It is expected to be approved by a vote at the national assembly next week. |
| The draft constitution would then be put to a popular referendum for final approval later this year. | The draft constitution would then be put to a popular referendum for final approval later this year. |
| If it is passed it will replace the existing constitution which was approved by the Communist Party in 1976. | If it is passed it will replace the existing constitution which was approved by the Communist Party in 1976. |
| Recognising private property could potentially mean more protections under law for private entrepreneurs - and foreign investors. | Recognising private property could potentially mean more protections under law for private entrepreneurs - and foreign investors. |
| But under the proposed reforms the party will remain as Cuba's dominant political force, the Granma newspaper reports. | But under the proposed reforms the party will remain as Cuba's dominant political force, the Granma newspaper reports. |
| Presidents, however, will be limited to serving two consecutive five-year terms and political power will be divided between the president and a prime minister. | Presidents, however, will be limited to serving two consecutive five-year terms and political power will be divided between the president and a prime minister. |
| It will ban discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin or disability. LGBT groups are hopeful it will also legalise same-sex marriage. | It will ban discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin or disability. LGBT groups are hopeful it will also legalise same-sex marriage. |
| Since 2010, Cuba has undergone a series of market reforms aimed at boosting the island's economy. | Since 2010, Cuba has undergone a series of market reforms aimed at boosting the island's economy. |
| The national assembly proposed a number of constitutional reforms last month - including presidential term limits and the legalisation of same-sex marriage - as the country moves to decide its political future. | The national assembly proposed a number of constitutional reforms last month - including presidential term limits and the legalisation of same-sex marriage - as the country moves to decide its political future. |
| The last constitutional reform in 2002 decreed that the socialist character of the political system in Cuba was "irrevocable". | The last constitutional reform in 2002 decreed that the socialist character of the political system in Cuba was "irrevocable". |
| The intention of the proposed reforms is to constitutionally formalise the island's economic and social opening-up while maintaining this "irrevocable" socialist system. | The intention of the proposed reforms is to constitutionally formalise the island's economic and social opening-up while maintaining this "irrevocable" socialist system. |
| President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced last month that former President Raúl Castro will lead the potential reforms. | President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced last month that former President Raúl Castro will lead the potential reforms. |
| Mr Díaz-Canel took over from Mr Castro as the country's leader in April. | Mr Díaz-Canel took over from Mr Castro as the country's leader in April. |
| The Castro brothers, first Fidel and them Raul, ruled the country between 1959 and 2018. | The Castro brothers, first Fidel and them Raul, ruled the country between 1959 and 2018. |