Council of Ministers of Cuba

The Council of Ministers is the highest ranking executive and administrative body and constitutes the government of the Republic of Cuba. Its membership consists of the President of the Council of ministers (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister of Cuba), [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm Country profile: Cuba] BBC online ] the Secretary, the First Vice President, and the five Vice Presidents of the Council of State, the heads of the national ministries, and such other members as established by law.

In addition to this largish body, there is a smaller body, the Executive Committee, consisting of the President, the First Vice President, the five Vice Presidents, and such of the Ministers as chosen by the President to be on the Executive Committee. As of 2005, the ministers of: Economy and Planning, Finances and Prices, Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Labor and Social Security, Metallurgy and Electronics Industry, Science, Technology, and the Environment and Tourism were on the Executive Committee.

Overview

The Council of Ministers is responsible for the implementation of policy agreements authorized by the National Assembly of People’s Power. These are designated to individual ministries. The council also proposes general plans for economic and social development, which are in turn authorized by the National Assembly twice yearly.

The Council of Ministers also directs Cuba's foreign policy and its relations with other governments; approves international treaties before passing them over for ratification of the Council of State; directs and oversees foreign trade and the State budget. The Council of Ministers enforces laws authorized by the National Assembly, which are passed by the Council of State.

Lists of members of the Council of Ministers

per the Cuban government website [http://www.cubagob.cu/]

President of the Council of Ministers (Prime minister)

*Raúl Castro

First Vice President

*José Ramón Machado

Vice Presidents of the Council of Ministers

*Osmany Cienfuegos
*José Ramón Fernández Álvarez
*Pedro Miret Prieto
*Otto Rivero Torres
*José Luis Rodríguez García

Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers

*Carlos Lage

ee also

*List of Prime Ministers of Cuba

Footnotes