Havana, March 29 (RHC) The Cuban Parliament elected through secret and direct vote two new members to the country’s Council of State, the organ representing the Assembly in between sessions.

The general secretary of the Cuban Workers’ Confederation, Ulises Guilarte, and the president of the Small Farmers’ Association, Rafael Ramon Santiesteban were elected to the Council of State during the First Extraordinary Session of the Cuban legislative body.

Guilarte takes over the post after the Second Secretary of the Confederation, Carmen Rosa Lopez, resigned that responsibility to facilitate the candidacy of the new secretary of the workers’ organization.

Meanwhile, Santiesteban replaced Felix Gonzalez, who headed the farmer’s association in the moment when he suddenly died few weeks ago.

President Raul Castro was the first to vote the two new Council of State members at the Assembly.