e was
abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of
the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there
is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National
Assembly

elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election
unscheduled)

election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power
or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly
from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve
five-year terms)

elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)

election results: percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular
(president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the
National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party or
PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since
1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
Embass