Cuba plans to introduce right to private property into Constitution

The Republic of Cuba, one of the world’s last remaining communist countries, is set to enact reforms, expected to introduce recognition of the need for private property into the charter.

TheNewsGuru reports the Cuban Parliament on Wednesday started discussing a planned constitutional reform to introduce right to private property ownership into constitution.

Parliamentary commissions met behind closed doors to discuss the reform, which is expected to be brought before a plenary session on Saturday, the state television channel Cubavision reported.

The reform has already undergone preparations by 33 lawmakers guided by former president Raul Castro, who ruled the Caribbean island from 2006 until being succeeded by Miguel Diaz-Canel April 2017.

The new constitution is expected to include a mention that private markets can play a role in a socialist economy and that foreign investment is important for developing the country.

It will also introduce the figure of a prime minister, which was abolished by the current 1976 constitution.

The number of presidential mandates, which is currently unlimited, will also be limited to two.

About half a million people Cubans have already been licensed to run small private businesses such as restaurants, lodgings or mechanical workshops but there is no mention of them in the constitution.

The constitutional reform would be submitted to a referendum at a later, as yet undefined date.