Havana, January 22 (RHC)— Cuba´s 168 municipal assemblies held extraordinary sessions on Sunday to nominate candidates for provincial delegates and deputies to the National Assembly, a process considered fundamental in the Island´s general elections, that will conclude on April 19 with the swearing in of a new legislature.

Nominated candidates included Raul Castro, Jose Ramón Machado Ventura and Miguel Diaz Canel.

President Raul Castro was nominated by delegates to the Municipal Assembly of Segundo Frente, in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, while vice presidents Machado Ventura was nominated by Guantamo municipality and Diaz Canel by Santa Clara municipality in central Cuba.

The speaker of the Cuban Parliament, Esteban Lazo, attended the extraordinary session of Arroyo Naranjo Municipal Assembly in Havana.

In remarks to the press, he said that candidates, men and women who hail from different sectors, races and cultural levels, will have a great responsibility once they are elected to the 9th legislature of the National Assembly.

Lazo insisted on the need of improving the work of the organs of People´s Power, amidst a complex international background, further complicated by the policies of the current US administration.

He stressed that the nomination conducted by the municipal assemblies on Sunday was a genuine expression of true democracy.