Low-Key Elections May Affect Castro’s Role

Source: New York Times

HAVANA — As Cubans went to the polls on Sunday, the ballot boxes, campaign posters and other trappings of democracy that are hauled out every election day were all in place. But there was something else that had not been present for many years — some degree of suspense.

As in the elections five years ago, and the ones five years before that, there was little doubt about who would win. The 614 candidates for the National Assembly of People’s Power were all running unopposed.

For the first time since most Cubans won the right to cast ballots for Parliament in 1993, however, there was some uncertainty about who would fill top leadership posts, which the new Parliament will play a role in resolving.

“Historically, I can’t say these elections have been very significant,” said Frank Mora, an expert on Cuba at the National War College in Washington. “This time around, though, they’re worth watching.”



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/world/americas/21cuba.html?ref=americas