Draft legislation discussed across the island.

Next Wednesday, October 28th, the Cuban National Assembly will decide on four important bills that seek to strengthen the country's institutional mechanisms.

As usual, the documents have been previously analyzed by deputies, a process to which all citizens have also contributed.  They were given the opportunity to express their opinions or doubts, since Parliament has made all the texts available on its website for their knowledge and analysis.

It is not unusual for Cubans to be able to express their concerns and opinions about the legislation that will govern the country's destiny; it is part of the participatory democracy that characterizes our society.

This has been the process for many decades now.  Today, Cuba has a new Constitution that is the result of a broad popular debate.

In the drafting of the Magna Carta, around 8 million opinions were collected during some 133,000 meetings held in schools, work places and neighborhoods. 

Many proposals emerged from this extensive popular consultation, which were analyzed by the commission in charge of drafting this important document.

Cubans living in 123 nations around the world also participated in the process, which led to the modification of 134 of the 224 articles included in the draft.

Profound debates were carried out concerning the Labor Code, approved in December 2013 by the National Assembly.  Almost three million workers participated in the discussions of the document, which updated labor policies and workers' rights in both the state and non-state sectors.

Cubans have a significant participation in the making of essential decisions for the development of the country and the creation of a more just and equitable society, where civic empowerment is fundamental national government.