Havana, October 18 (RHC)-- "The Draft Constitution being debated today is perfectible, and it is not the work of a commission or a group, but a collective work built with the contribution of all the people,” said Homero Acosta Álvarez, Secretary of the Council of State, at the inaugural session Wednesday of the International Lawyers Congress 2018.

«To date, millions of Cubans, with absolute freedom, have analyzed the draft Constitution and have expressed tens of thousands of opinions. In workplaces, schools, in neighborhoods, there has been an active, committed and responsible participation of our society, in what amounts to a clear denial to those who speaks of apathy, indifference, formalism and lack of participation,” Acosta said.

He described the current discussions as a unique exercise of real and effective democracy, a paradigmatic constituent process with the people as a true protagonist and added that the balance of people´s input is very positive.

Acosta stressed that no opinion will be disregarded, and noted that there are dissimilar and even contradictory suggestions.

Once the consultation process is concluded in November, the text will be forwarded to the National Assembly for the assessment of the views voiced by the people.  The final draft deriving from the discussion of the Parliament will be subjected to a referendum for its approval early next year.

“The text will have a high dose of legitimacy,” the Secretary of the Council of State said.