Communist Party of Cuba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Communist Party of Cuba Partido Comunista de Cuba
First Secretary	Miguel Díaz-Canel
Founder	Fidel Castro
Founded	3 October 1965; 59 years ago (1965-10-03)
Preceded by	United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution
Headquarters	Palacio de la Revolución, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana
Newspaper	Granma
Youth wing	Young Communist League
Children's wing	José Martí Pioneer Organization
Membership (2022 est.)	<500,000
Ideology	Communism Marxism–Leninism Left-wing nationalism Castroism Guevarism Socialist patriotism
Political position	Far-left
Regional affiliation	COPPPAL São Paulo Forum
International affiliation	IMCWP
Colors	Red      Blue
Slogan	¡Hasta la victoria siempre! ("Ever onward to victory!")
National Assembly	442 / 470
Party flag

The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the main political party in Cuba. It is the only party allowed to govern the country. It was started on October 3, 1965. This party took over from an earlier group called the United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution. That group was formed after the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

The party guides Cuba as a single-party state. This means it is the only political group in charge. The Cuban constitution says the party is the "leading force of society and of the state." The highest group in the PCC is the Party Congress. This meeting happens every five years. When the Congress is not meeting, the Central Committee takes charge. Most daily tasks are handled by the Politburo. Since April 2021, Miguel Díaz-Canel has been the main leader, called the First Secretary. He has also been the President of Cuba since 2018.

The party follows an idea called Marxism–Leninism. This idea says that all industries should be owned by the state. It also supports a command economy, where the government plans everything. This has been the case in Cuba despite a long-term trade ban by the United States. The PCC also supports the ideas of Fidel Castro (called Castroism) and Che Guevara (called Guevarism). It is part of a group called the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties.

History of the Communist Party of Cuba

A billboard in Havana promoting the "ongoing socialist revolution"

Cuba had different communist groups even before 1959. An early Communist Party of Cuba was formed in the 1920s. In 1944, it changed its name to the Popular Socialist Party. This was done for election reasons.

In July 1961, two years after the Cuban Revolution, a new group was formed. It was called the Integrated Revolutionary Organizations (ORI). This group brought together:

• Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement
• The Popular Socialist Party led by Blas Roca
• Parts of the student group called the Revolutionary Directory

On March 26, 1962, the ORI became the United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution (PURSC). This group then became the Communist Party of Cuba on October 3, 1965. The Cuban constitution states that the Communist Party guides society and the state. It helps build socialism and move towards a communist society. No political parties, including the Communist Party, are allowed to advertise themselves publicly.

For its first 15 years, the Communist Party was not very active. The Central Committee rarely met. The first big party meeting, called the Congress, happened ten years after the party was founded. In 1969, only about 55,000 people were members. This made it the smallest ruling communist party in the world.

In the 1970s, the party started to grow. By 1975, it had over 200,000 members. The Central Committee began meeting regularly. This helped the party take on its leading role in society. By 1980, membership grew to over 430,000. It reached 520,000 by 1985. The party made sure its leaders were in important government jobs.

The Eighth Congress, a major party meeting, happened from April 16 to 19, 2021. During this meeting, Miguel Díaz-Canel was chosen as the top leader, the First Secretary. He took over from Raúl Castro.

How the Party is Organized

The PCC guides Cuba as a single-party state. This means that other political groups are not allowed to exist or challenge the party's rule.

Party Congresses

The Communist Party of Cuba held its first big meeting, the Party Congress, in 1975. Other congresses have happened in 1980, 1986, 1991, 1997, and 2011. The Seventh Congress was held from April 19 to 22, 2016. Fidel Castro gave the closing speech at this event.

Central Committee

Party headquarters

The main groups that lead the party used to be the Politburo and the Secretariat. In 1991, these two groups were combined into a larger Politburo. However, the Secretariat was brought back in 2002. There is also a Central Committee that meets between the big party congresses. At the Fifth Congress, the Central Committee was made smaller, from 225 members to 150. Fidel Castro was the party's first leader, or First Secretary. Raúl Castro was the Second Secretary. When Fidel Castro stepped down in 2008, Raúl Castro became the First Secretary.

Politburo

A group of 14 Politburo members was chosen on April 19, 2021. This happened after the 8th Congress.

Secretariat

A group of 6 Secretariat members was chosen on April 19, 2021. This also happened after the 8th Congress.

Groups Connected to the PCC

The Communist Party of Cuba works with many other organizations. These groups help connect the party to different parts of society.

• Young Communist League (UJC): This group, started in 1962 by Fidel Castro, is for young people who want to be future party members.
• Workers' Central Union of Cuba (CTC): This is a large union for workers in Cuba. It was founded in 1939.
• Federation of Cuban Women (FMC): This group, started in 1960 by Fidel Castro, focuses on women's issues.
• National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP): This organization, founded in 1961, is for farmers.
• José Martí Pioneer Organization (OPJM): This group, started in 1977, is for students, like a children's club.
• Student Federation of Secondary Education (FEEM): This group is for high school students.
• University Student Federation (FEU): This group is for university students.
• Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR): These groups, started in 1960, help with community work.
• Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC): This group is for active and retired military members.
• Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC): This is an organization for journalists.

Youth Groups

The Communist Party of Cuba has a youth group called the Young Communist League (Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas, UJC). This group is part of a worldwide youth organization. It also has a children's group called the José Martí Pioneer Organization.

Party Ideas (Ideology)

The PCC officially follows Marxism–Leninism. This is an idea that aims to create a communist society. Since the Cuban Revolution, the party has also followed the ideas of Fidel Castro (called Castroism). These ideas include inspiration from José Martí. It also follows the ideas of Che Guevara (called Guevarism).

Economy

The party has been careful about making big changes to its economy. However, it has had to accept some market-style changes. This was especially true after the Soviet Union broke up. The Soviet Union used to give Cuba a lot of economic help.

After Raúl Castro became the party leader, he worked to "renew" Cuba's economy. He wanted to add new ways of trading and distributing goods. These ways are often seen in market economies. This has led some people to think Cuba might become more like China or Vietnam. These countries have a mix of socialist and market ideas. The new constitution, approved in 2019, recognized private property. It also saw the need for foreign businesses to invest in Cuba.

Foreign Relations

The Communist Party of Cuba has often helped left-wing groups and governments in other countries. For example, it helped groups in Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Grenada. Cuba played a very important role in the Angolan Civil War. There, Cuba led a joint force with Angola and the Soviet Union. More recently, the party has supported leaders in Latin America. These include Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, and Evo Morales in Bolivia.

The party also uses "medical diplomacy." This means it sends thousands of Cuban doctors, farm experts, and other professionals to help people in developing countries. The party also supports countries in Latin America working together.

Elections in Cuba

Cuba holds elections for its National Assembly. The Communist Party of Cuba is the only legal party allowed to take part in these elections. This means that all the seats in the National Assembly are held by members supported by the Communist Party.

National Assembly elections

Election	Party leader	Votes		%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
1976	Fidel Castro	Elected by the Municipal Assemblies			489 / 489	489	1st	Sole legal party
1981		Elected by the Municipal Assemblies			499 / 499	10	1st	Sole legal party
1986		Elected by the Municipal Assemblies			510 / 510	11	1st	Sole legal party
1993		Full list	6,939,894	94.67%	589 / 589	79	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	360,735	5.33%
1998		Full list	7,533,222	100%	601 / 601	12	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote
2003		Full list	7,128,860	91.35%	609 / 609	8	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	675,038	8.65%
2008		Full list	7,125,752	90.90%	614 / 614	5	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	713,606	9.10%
2013	Raúl Castro	Full list	6,031,215	81.30%	612 / 612	2	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	1,387,307	18.70%
2018		Full list	5,620,713	80.44%	605 / 605	7	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	1,366,328	19.56%
2023	Miguel Díaz-Canel	Full list	4,012,864	72.10%	470 / 470	135	1st	Sole legal party
		Selective vote	1,552,776	27.90%

See also

In Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba para niños