Chamber:
	Asamblea nacional del Poder popular
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	24 February 1993
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament under the terms of the new Electoral Law adopted in 1992. General elections had previously taken place in November 1986.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Following broad-based consultations, and a resolution of the 4th Congress of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Constitution in July 1992. These included reforms to the electoral system, which was further overhauled in October of the same year. The new Electoral Law provided that Deputies to the National Assembly would henceforth be elected by direct universal suffrage rather than indirectly by municipal councillors. The membership of Parliament was for its part increased from the previous 510 to 589. More than 60,000 pre-candidatures were scrutinized by the National Candidature Commission, out of which a list of 589 candidates was presented to the electorate, comprising 274 grass-roots, 180 provincial and 135 national nominees, all supporters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). Various categories of the population were represented, including medical doctors, athletes, sports coaches, army generals, psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as senior government officials and farmers. President of the Republic Fidel Castro Ruz was himself a candidate in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Campaigning began in early February, although it was forbidden for candidates to engage in propaganda and make promises. As a result of dissident groups urging voters to spoil their ballots, members of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution went from door to door encouraging electors to vote for entire lists presented in the various constituencies and not to split their vote. President Castro urged Cubans to vote massively as a testimony of their struggle against what he termed Yankee (US) imperialism. Polling was held simultaneously with that for 1,120 delegates to the 14 provincial assemblies against a background of socio-economic crisis resulting from the continuing US embargo against Cuba and the austerity measures adopted by the Government to boost the ailing economy. By official accounts, the turnout was massive (a major disappointment for proponents of a boycott). The National Electoral Commission announced that up to 99.57% of the electorate had been to the polls, with an overwhelming majority voting for the entire lists. It also announced that all 589 candidates had received more than 50% of the valid votes cast and were therefore considered elected. The newly-elected Parliament comprised only 98 of the Deputies of the former legislature. On 15 March, the new National Assembly elected incumbent Foreign Minister Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada as its President. It further elected a 31-member Council of State (the highest representative body, being elected from among the Assembly’s Deputies) with President Fidel Castro being re-elected as its President. He continues to be the Head of State and Government, and the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (24 February 1993): Elections results
Number of registered electors	7,955,170 – 69,131* = 7,886,039
Voters	7,852,364 (99.57%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	551,686
Valid votes	7,300,629
Votes for entire lists	6,939,894 (95.06%)
Selective votes	360,735 (4.94%)

Comments:
	* Exceptionally registered voters or those who voted at polling stations outside their habitual place of residence.

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Category	Total
Grass-roots representatives	274
Provincial representatives	180
National representatives	135

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	455
Women:	134