Answers for Aruca
Taken from Ramy’s blog, A Correspondent’s Draft
By Manuel Alberto Ramy
February 6, 2012
The Cuban Communist Party (PCC) as a function of the economy
The design is political: a new socialist model
This year’s most important measures
A 20% gradual rejuvenation of the Central Committee
Since the closing of the Cuban Communist Party (CCP) conference, I had agreed with Francisco Aruca, Radio Progreso Alternativa’s director, to discuss the results of the meeting.
I researched the Cuban media –newspapers and TV– looking for all the information published and broadcast on the subject. First I allowed it to settle, and then I meditated calmly to keep my discussion with Aruca on the initial thread of what has been happening in Cuba for the past five years – more or less.
I wanted to make clear that the Party’s conference was not an isolated case, but the follow-up to the political, economic and human process that is taking place in the country and which I believe will be profound. The pace of the changes is a factor of the process itself, but it is not a limitation of what may be envisioned. The transformations can be attained gradually, for patience does not exclude the breadth.
This is the result of my conversation with Aruca.
Francisco Aruca (FA): What is the most important single issue of the Conference?
Manuel Alberto Ramy (MAR): Raúl Castro, as its First Secretary, made an essential point: the Party’s structure should be subordinated to the economic changes. Economics over politics, for the latter was the top priority for many, many years.
FA: What is the reason for this change of course?
MAR: Reality rules. This has been said before with different words: changes must be thorough or everything goes down the drain. On the other hand, there is no politics, nor work can be done in that environment, without a sound economy. The economic act is the most urgent one.
FA: How did those changes influence the Conference?
MAR: They drew a line between the political functions of the CCP and the administrative ones. At least in the documents approved, the Party gives up its direct participation in business administration and maintains only “management and control, checking adequate implementation and compliance with agreements” voted in the 6th Congress. That means checking that Guidelines are followed, but not interfering with them. As I said before, the CCP will be dedicated to the task of the Guidelines, which are no less than the economic project, the basics.
FA: Where do politics and the economy meet?
MAR: As I told you, emphasis is on the economy, but the design, the model of an economy and a socialist society stems from the political factor – keeping stubborn reality in mind. The administration will be in the hands of entrepreneurs, managers, etc. Marino Murillo is the helmsman; he is in charge and has a team of experts under him – 90 to 140 of them – some full-time and others as part-time consultants. He announced that the economic measures with the greatest impact will be in force this year.
FA: And the measures would be…?
MAR: Although they are significant and have different consequences, some of the openings to private business (self-employment) such as small restaurants and certain services, which I believe to be important and that I can address at some other time, are not enough to avoid catastrophe. There is serious talk about a law on urban cooperatives, at present inexistent, which would mean the creation of small and medium businesses; of the impact that the Mariel Development Zone is having; of other large investments; or of propping up farming cooperatives with a greater degree of autonomy and the new ones authorized by law. A very important matter: according to reliable sources, the proper authorities are already working in a new investment law that would be more flexible than the present one.
FA: Back to the changes produced by the Conference. Anything else that backs what you say?
MAR: The Party’s cadre training centers are giving courses in business management, a subject that previously was not included. Ideological matters are still taught, but according to sources, the priority is on subjects that many years ago were part of the curriculum of a business administration degree at the University of Havana’s School of Social Science. Now there is a higher learning center for government cadres where these matters are also taught. Another signal of change is the answer given to a delegate to the conference by Caridad Diego, head of the Central Committee’s Department of Religious Affairs, on whether private businesses were exploiting a workforce. The official newspaper Granma quoted Diego’s response citing the Cuban Constitution to deny said exploitation. That defense is significant.
FA: There were expectations about changes in top positions, both in the Central Committee (CC) and in the Politburo (PB). But none happened.
MAR: If you recall I did not anticipate such changes in an earlier blog entry. The reason? It was obvious that the Conference would be about the Party itself. At the Conference there were no such changes, but in the coming months there will be as many as 20 percent substitutions in the CC – which has 144 members – for that level was empowered in making the necessary changes without waiting for the CCP’s next congress. I do not expect any spectacular replacements, but new faces are expected, and perhaps somebody will be promoted to fill the post vacated in the PB by the death of the minister of the Armed Forces, Army General Julio Casas Regueiro. I think that the change of figures and rejuvenation will be as gradual as the process of the new socialist project.
FA: One last question: What is the reason for the gradualness?
MAR: It could be due to several factors: the impact of the changes in the social fabric, one that has moved in several directions, but also moved by measures already in place; the consensus to be reached at the highest levels; the prudence of leaders so that the process does not get out of hand; and the international situation. Special mention should be made of the role played by bureaucrats and other losers due to changes already in place and the coming ones. For 50 years they have been the bearers of an old mentality and deep rooted habits. It will not be easy to make them change or substitute them.
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Both Aruca and I believe that the subject is far from exhausted, so there could be other conversations between us. There is still much to discuss.
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