Council Ministers of Cuba

Council Ministers of Cuba
Agency name	Council of Ministers of Cuba
Nativename	Consejo de Ministros de Cuba
Seal caption	Coat of arms of Cuba
Formed	16 February 1959
Headquarters	Palacio de la Revolución, Havana
Chief1 name	Manuel Marrero Cruz
Chief1 position	Prime Minister
Chief2 name	Salvador Valdés Mesa
Chief2 position	Vice President
Chief3 name	Alejandro Gil Fernández
Chief3 position	Deputy Prime Minister
Parent department	Government of Cuba
Website	https://www.cubagob.cu

Council Ministers of Cuba. The Council of Ministers is the highest ranking executive and administrative body of the Republic of Cuba, constituting the government of the nation. It is headed by the Prime Minister and is composed of ministers, the president of the Central Bank of Cuba, and other members as established by law. The council is responsible for directing and executing the domestic and foreign policy of the state, as well as the administration of the national economy.

History and establishment

The Council of Ministers was formally established on February 16, 1959, following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. It replaced the previous cabinet of the Republic of Cuba and was initially structured under the provisions of the 1940 Constitution of Cuba. The body's formation was a central component of the revolutionary government's consolidation of power, moving away from the previous administrations of Fulgencio Batista and Carlos Prío Socarrás. Its early years were defined by implementing radical socio-economic transformations, including the Agrarian Reform Law and the nationalization of key industries, which led to significant tensions with the United States and the eventual Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Structure and composition

The council's structure is defined by the Constitution of Cuba, most recently the 2019 Constitution. It is composed of the Prime Minister, the Vice President, the Deputy Prime Ministers, the ministers, the president of the Central Bank of Cuba, and other members that may be established by law. Key ministerial portfolios include the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The council operates through a permanent executive committee, headed by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers, which addresses day-to-day governance.

Powers and responsibilities

The council holds extensive executive and administrative authority, charged with organizing and directing the political, economic, cultural, scientific, social, and defense activities outlined by the National Assembly of People's Power. Its specific powers include proposing the National Economic Plan and the State budget, ensuring national defense and public order, directing foreign policy and international relations, and approving international treaties. It also issues decree-laws and regulations, and oversees the work of the Central Administration of the State, which includes all ministries and national institutes.

List of Council Ministers

The council has been led by several key figures throughout Cuban history. The first Prime Minister was Fidel Castro, who served from 1959 until 1976, when the office was abolished under the 1976 Constitution and replaced by the President of the Council of State. The position of Prime Minister was reinstated by the 2019 Constitution. Other notable leaders have included Raúl Castro, who served as President of the Council of State and Ministers from 2008 to 2018, and Miguel Díaz-Canel, who succeeded him. The current Prime Minister is Manuel Marrero Cruz, appointed in 2019.

Relationship with other state bodies

The Council of Ministers is accountable to the National Assembly of People's Power, Cuba's unicameral parliament, to which it must present its program and report annually. The President of Cuba, who is the head of state, is elected by the National Assembly and works closely with the council. The council also coordinates with the Council of State, a body elected by the National Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session. Furthermore, it implements policies developed in conjunction with the Communist Party of Cuba, the country's constitutionally recognized leading political force.

Evolution and reforms

The council has undergone significant evolution, particularly through constitutional reforms. The 1976 Constitution of Cuba integrated the roles of head of state and head of government, placing executive power in the President of the Council of State. This structure persisted for decades until the 2019 Constitution of Cuba reintroduced the separate office of Prime Minister, redistributing executive functions. This reform aimed to modernize state administration. Other changes have included periodic restructuring of ministries, such as the creation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and economic reforms initiated during the Special Period and under the Lineamientos economic guidelines.

Category:Government of Cuba Category:Cabinet of Cuba Category:Executive branches of government