e 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
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

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, ICAO, 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