Cuba votes on the ‘Family Code’ referendum, which includes same-sex marriage

First modification: 09/26/2022 – 00:14

This Sunday, September 25, Cuba goes through the definition of the referendum that could open new inclusive rights. The ‘Family Code’ is put to public opinion in elections that have not received a massive turnout.

Of 8.8 million Cubans eligible to vote from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, just over three million (37.03%) turned up at noon, indicated the National Electoral Council (CEN). ).

Taking as a reference the only referendum held on the island, that of 2019 to support the new constitution, citizen participation was 20% below that occasion, after half a day.

For this vote, 24,000 schools were opened and the first results will be announced on Monday, said the CEN, but the final one will take place five days later and will be binding. For it to be approved, it only needs one vote beyond 50%.

Although the most popular items have been the controversial ones, such as the recognition of same-sex marriage, permission for people of the same sex to adopt or surrogacy, the legislative package also points to parental rights and regulations.

The Family Code also covers gender violence, prohibits child marriage and defends communication between grandparents and grandchildren in divorce contexts. In addition, it would prevent domestic aggressors from bidding for custody of children, the distribution of assets and puts the figures of stepmothers and stepfathers as guardians.

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The project has been promoted and defended by the Government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, who was one of the first people to vote this Sunday. The state apparatus has installed a strong campaign in favor of the ‘Yes’; while the opposition did not make a company against him, but they did call for abstention.

After voting, the head of state warned about a “punishment vote” that could undermine the approval of the referendum. “We have to get used to the fact that in such complex issues where there is a diversity of criteria and in the midst of a complex situation there may be people who have a vote of punishment,” he said.

While he cataloged as a “position of courage” the fact of calling a referendum to resolve sensitive issues on family law in the context of the serious economic crisis that Cuba has suffered for years, with “shortages, blackouts, shortages and a part important part of the paralyzed economy”.

This will be the first plebiscite for a specific law in Cuban territory since the triumph of the revolution in 1959. In addition, it will be the only project that will be defined in this way of the 70 legal regulations updated with the new Constitution.

Before being approved last July by the National Assembly, it was widely consulted between February and April in 79,000 meetings in neighborhoods and municipalities.

with EFE