Cuban Communist Party Implemented Only a Fraction of Reforms From Sixth Party Congress

Cuban Communist Party Implemented Only a Fraction of Reforms From Sixth
Party Congress / 14ymedio
Posted on January 18, 2016

14ymedio, Havana, 15 January 2016 — Five years after approval, at the
Sixth Party Congress, of the Political, Social and Economic Policy
Guidelines of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), the Party just admitted
that it has only implemented 21% of the planned reforms.

At a plenary session this week of the PCC's Central Committee, which was
not previously announced, PCC leaders evaluated the results of the
"updating of the socialist model," enacted in 2011. They recognized that
some of the measures implemented in the last five years "still have had
no real impact on the family budget."

Between congresses, the highest body of the PCC also analyzed several
documents during the session, presided over by Raul Castro. The "2030
Economic and Social Development Program" was presented, which contains
the "proposed vision of the nation" for the next fifteen years and
defines the axes, objectives and strategic sectors that will shape the
direction of the country.

According to the Party-run Granma newspaper, the development program is
aimed at solving the structural problems of the economy, "starting with
government policies with a comprehensive and sustainable focus that
respond to a strategic and consensual vision of the medium and long term."

Many analysts suggest that the updates of the economic and social model
seem to have peaked after modest openings in the economy to private
initiative and the easing the rules for foreign investment, as well as
allowing Cubans to travel abroad and to buy and sell homes.

The 7th Congress will be held this April in a very difficult regional
context for Cuba, as a result of the landslide victory of the opposition
in legislative elections in Venezuela. There is now the risk of a cut in
the enormous oil subsidies that South American country sends to the
island, in the name of political solidarity. On the other hand, this
meeting will be the first for Cuban communists after the reestablishment
of relations with the United States.

Source: Cuban Communist Party Implemented Only a Fraction of Reforms
From Sixth Party Congress / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/cuban-communist-party-implemented-only-a-fraction-of-reforms-from-sixth-party-congress-14ymedio/