Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 15 March 2019
Amid crisis, Cuba plans revamp of state and legal system

By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ formed political system, led
HAVANA (AP) — In the by the Communist Party, of
midst of a regional cri- course, but different and
sis over Venezuela and confronting big challeng-
tough economic straits, es."
the Cuban government is One of the first changes
about to launch a sweep- will be in Cuba's political
ing makeover of its cen- system. Within five months,
trally planned, single-party the government is required
system with dozens of new to pass a new electoral law
laws that could reshape that splits the roles of head
everything from criminal of state and government
justice to the market econ- between the current presi-
omy. dent and the new post of
Nearly a year of debate prime minister. A new set of
and discussion ended last governors will replace the
month with the approval Communist Party first secre-
of Cuba's first constitutional taries as the highest official
reform since 1976. Some in Cuba's 15 provinces.
observers see the new con- While the Communist Party
stitution as a merely cos- remains the only permitted
metic update aimed at political group, the word-
assuring one of the world's ing of the new constitu-
last communist systems In this July 21, 2018 photo, a member of the National Assembly studies the proposed constitutional tion could allow voters to
won't get another revamp update in Havana, Cuba. choose between various
until long after the passing Associated Press candidates rather than
of its founding fathers, now simply voting yes or no for a
in their late 80s and early bureaucracy. two years to replace ones "I expect to see big chang- candidate pre-selected by
90s. Others see the poten- Cuban legal experts told rendered obsolete by the es in Cuba with the new a government commission,
tial for a slow-moving but The Associated Press that new constitution. The as- constitution," said Julio An- experts said.
deep set of changes that they expect the govern- sembly is virtually certain tonio Fernandez, a con- A new business law could
will speed the moderniza- ment to send the National to unanimously approve all stitutional law professor at create a formal role for
tion of Cuba's economical- Assembly between 60 and government proposals, as it the University of Havana. "A small- and medium-sized
ly stagnant authoritarian 80 new laws over the next has for decades. new state structure, a trans- businesses. q

Brazil remembers slain politician 1 year after her death

ANNA JEAN KAISER Commemorations then
Associated Press continued with a service
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — at a Catholic Church in
Tearful friends, family and downtown Rio, where fol-
admirers gathered in Rio lowers of Afro-Brazilian reli-
de Janeiro on Thursday to gions wore traditional white
pay homage to a black garb, sang chants, and
city councilwoman who held signs reading "Marielle
was gunned down one is present" and "For black
year ago in a brazen slay- mothers."
ing that has sparked na- Franco's mother, Marinete
tionwide outrage. da Silva, said her daugh-
Marielle Franco and her ter had "become a symbol
driver, Anderson Gomes, of resistance all over the
were killed in central Rio world."
on the evening of March Many also took to the
14, 2018 while returning streets to celebrate black,
from an event focused on female politicians who won
empowering young black post during October elec-
women. tions. Several of them had
Authorities this week ar- been on Franco's staff.
rested two former police Elected in 2016, Franco
officers for the murders, was a member of the left-
but the case continues to leaning Socialism and Lib-
highlight deep corruption Posters showing councilwoman Marielle Franco with messages that read in Portuguese: “Who or- erty Party and was known
dered the killing of Marielle,” and “We will not be stopped,” are displayed at the site where Franco
in Brazil and there are un- was gunned down, during a demonstration marking the one year anniversary of her death, in Rio for her work in shantytowns
answered questions about de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 14, 2019. and her outspokenness
who ordered the hit and Associated Press against police violence,
why. which disproportionately
"It is my worst nightmare to Francisco da Silva Neto, at res, Madrid, Bogota, Lisbon, of vases, lit candles and affects black residents
be participating in the mass a commemoration service. Berlin, London and several demanded accountabil- in a country where more
paying homage to my as- Vigils, lectures and protests cities in the United States. ity with a banner that read than 50 percent of people
sassinated daughter," said were also planned for Fran- In Rio de Janeiro, some "Justice for Marielle and identify as black or mixed-
Franco's father, Antonio co in Stockholm, Buenos Ai- placed flowers in a line Anderson." race.q