In the lead up to the 7th Party Congress of
the Communist Party of Cuba, Granma
International offers readers four articles
tracing the creation, history and impact of the
Communist Party of Cuba on the island.
Part 1:
Our Party was born during
the historic days of Girón...
No other date is more symbolic than April
16, that of our party’s founding.
On the eve of the mercenary invasion at
Playa Girón, after honoring the victims of the
previous day’s aerial attacks on our airports,
combatants of the Rebel Army, the National
Police, and militias swore to defend at any
cost the socialist character of the Revolution,
proclaimed on this unforgettable day.
The historic roots of Cuba’s political
vanguard lie in the Cuban Revolutionary
Party founded by José Martí to organize and
conduct the Necessary War; in the profusion
of Marxist-Leninist ideas expressed in the
first Communist Party of Cuba created
by Carlos Baliño and Julio Antonio Mella
in 1925; in the development of mass antiimperialist
consciousness in the first half of
the 20th century; and, as the culmination, in
the shock wave produced across the nation
by the heroic actions of July 26, 1953, and
the initiation of the war for the country’s
definitive independence, conquered January
1, 1959. At that time, for the first time,
the people achieved their legitimate
aspirations, and took their rightful
place as protagonists following the
triumph of the Revolution.
The destruction of the old bourgeois
apparatus, and the formation of the
nascent state, the radical steps taken
by the Revolution, and the creation of
genuine, fighting organizations of the masses,
confirmed the Revolution’s unmistakable
trajectory. On October 15, 1960, during a
television appearance, Comandante
en Jefe
Fidel stated that the democratic, popular,
agrarian, anti-imperialist stage of the Cuban
Revolution had been completed, and with
it, the essence of the Moncada Program,
outlined in Fidel’s History Will Absolve
Me. The economic and political power of the
privileged in Cuba had been eliminated, he
said, and announced the beginning of a new
stage, one in which methods directed toward
economic and social transformation would
be different. It would be the beginning of the
socialist period in Cuban conditions, although
its essence had already been expressed in
action, and in the content of the Declaration
of Havana on September 2.
The big changes in all aspects of the country’s
life, the need to face relentless imperialist
aggression, and the strategic goals of the
Revolution made the creation of a political
vanguard imperative, to forge and consolidate
the necessary unity – a party which would be
a faithful representation of Cuban society and
the people’s deepest desires.
At that moment, the principal forces
participating in the armed struggle and in
the period immediately following the rebel
victory (the July 26th Movement, the March
13 Revolutionary Directorate, and the Popular
Socialist Party) all had their own areas of
influence, tactics and leadership bodies.
The evolution of the process, and the
Revolution’s objectives, contributed to the
creation of conditions for more frequent
discussion and interaction between the
principal organizations carrying out the
Revolution, and steps were taken by their
leaders to work jointly at the grassroots and
leadership levels.
Thus, when the socialist character of the
Revolution was declared, that historic April
16, unification of these three organizations
was already underway, even though a single
party did not yet exist.
Referring to this important process, Fidel
stated in the main report to the First Party
Congress, “The conditions were present for
the convergence of all revolutionaries in a
single Party. A process of integration at the
grassroots and leadership levels had already
begun earlier, but after the definitions of April
16, and the glorious victory of Girón, our
Party was in fact born in the firm unity of all
revolutionaries and working people, cemented
by the heroism of our working class, which
fought and shed its blood generously in the
defense of the homeland and of socialism.
From now on, we act as a single organization
and under a cohesive leadership.”
Unlike the party founded by Martí to win
independence, or that created by Lenin to
lead Russia to the victory of October, 1917,
and other examples within the revolutionary
movement, our Party emerged in the heat of
battles to defend the Revolution.
In the days following the resounding defeat
of the mercenary invasion, the definitive
steps were taken to create a new political
organization, under a collective leadership.
Interests and barriers, which divided,
distanced, impeded and weakened the
necessary unity, were left behind. From this
moment forward, the Party followed an
unprecedented path of creation and authenticity, closely tied to the
people.
This is how our Party was born, under the
unquestionable leadership of Fidel.
Part 2:
A Party of the masses and
for the masses
Fidel was the unquestionable driving force
and constructor of unity among revolutionary
forces. Since the liberation war’s earliest
days, the maximum leader of the Revolution
facilitated contact, reached compromises and
accords with organizations participating in
the struggle. After the January 1, 1959, victory,
the
Comandante en Jefe promoted meetings of
the principal leaders of these forces, including
some which required absolute discretion, and
little by little made these encounters more
regular and significant, in an effort to create a
context for unity.
Just two months after the historic victory at
Playa Girón, June 24, 1961, an important
leadership plenum of the Popular Socialist
Party (PSP) took place, with the maximum
leaders of the July 26th Movement and the
March 13 Revolutionary
Directorate in attendance. At
this meeting, a unanimous
decision was made to unite
the three forces, to undertake
the most imperative tasks
of the transition to and
construction of socialism.
During the memorable
meeting, Fidel was recognized
as the nation’s principal
leader. Once the unity
resolution was approved,
the PSP was dissolved, and,
immediately thereafter, the
July 26th Movement and
the March 13 Revolutionary
Directorate proceeded to do
the same. These decisions
led to the establishment of
the Integrated Revolutionary Organizations
(ORI), to coordinate joint-work prior to the
formation of a new single party.
Following the event, the intense process of
creating provincial and grassroots structures
began. Thus, on March 8, 1962, the new
party’s National Directorate was constituted,
and on the 22nd, this body designated Fidel
and Raúl as first and second Party secretaries,
respectively, while Blas Roca was chosen as
editor of the newspaper Hoy.
The birth of a single political organization, with
a single leadership, meant an extraordinary
strengthening of the Revolution. A few days
earlier, March 13, Fidel had warned of and
publicly denounced the emergence of certain
sectarian attitudes, a lack of confidence in
those who had not previously been members
of the PSP, and discrimination regarding
membership in the new party. Sectarianism
in the process of constituting the new
organization was cut short in time.
In virtue of this criticism, work was done
to ensure that grassroots units of the ORI
undertaking the formation of new party
structures were strictly complying with the
requirement that the population be consulted
regarding members to be chosen.
Fidel made an extraordinary contribution,
in theory and practice, to the construction
of the Party. He was the architect of its
constitution, based on the creative application
of the ideas of Martí and Lenin, given the
specific conditions of the Cuban Revolution,
which were practically expressed in norms,
procedures, leadership methods, principles,
discipline, mass consultation, internal
democracy and collective leadership.
Under these precepts, a political vanguard
has been forged with the careful selection of
members, closely tied to the masses, which has
gained the prestige and authority so necessary
to effective political work.
Referring to this conception, in April of 1962,
Fidel commented, “The Revolution is made
by the masses and for the masses. This is the
Party’s reason for being, and all its prestige
and all of its authority will be based on the
real ties it has with the masses.”
Part 3:
The Communist Party
of Cuba
The result of the process undertaken in the
previous two years, in May 1963 the Integrated
Revolutionary Organizations (ORI) came to
be called the United Party of the Socialist
Revolution of Cuba (PURSC). This was not
a simple name change, but the establishment
of a rigorous democratic system for entry into
its ranks, on the basis of consultation with
workers about who could be considered and
elected as model workers, and the selection by
relevant bodies, from among these workers, of
those who should be selected for entry into
its ranks.
Based on these principles, intense activity
unfolded in workplaces and in other collectives.
Based on the first experiences, this task
extended to other sectors of Cuban society.
Under the guidance and direction of Raúl,
for example, in the eastern mountains, the
work of building the Party began following
socio-political studies, taking advantage of
the structure of the mountain companies,
which due to their composition had become
effective political-military organizations in
these territories.
This first experience in the military structures
served as the model to initiate this process
in the rest of the armed institutions. Thus,
on December 2, 1963, the process began in
the Eastern Army. It was demonstrated that
the existence of the Party, far from clashing
with the principle of unity of command,
increased the authority of commanders, raised
the combat effectiveness of troops, improved
technique, strengthened military discipline,
and significantly developed the knowledge
and the level of political training of officers
and soldiers.
Three years later, the political vanguard had
essentially been constituted in all sectors of
the country.
Between September 30 and October 1, 1965,
the first important meetings of the Party’s top
leadership took place, attended by members of
the provincial bureaus of the Party, the general
secretaries of regional committees and leaders
of provincial state administrations.
On the conclusion of these meetings, October
3, Fidel reported the decisions of the national
leadership of the PURSC, ratified on October
2 at the first meeting of its Central Committee,
on the election of the Political Bureau, the
Secretariat and the Work Commissions; the
union of the newspapers Hoy and Revolución
into one: Granma, which henceforth would
be the official voice of the Party; and the
agreement to rename the PURSC as the
unequivocal expression of a new stage, and the
highest goals and aspirations of the Cuban
people.
With these steps, the formation was essentially
concluded of the Communist Party of Cuba,
whose principles and methods have proven
effective through today.
Part 4:
Without the Party the
Revolution could not exist
For more than five decades, the
Party has continued along a
path of constant learning and
experience, seeking and perfecting
its own, more effective methods
and work style, invariably
alongside the masses in the most
difficult and complex moments of
the economic, political and social
battle; leading the development of
the consciousness of the people,
of their general and political
education; at the forefront of the
defense of the Revolution.
With its vigilant action, the
Party overcame the ambitious
and opportunistic trends of the
“microfracción” (sectarianism)
of the years 1967 and 1968;
actively participated in the
institutionalization process of
the country in the seventies, and
created its central support structure
in May 1973, as part of measures
aimed at its strengthening and development.
An expression of the maturity achieved and
the growing role of the Party was its First
Congress held in December 1975, and those
held subsequently. Each has been at the center
of the main tasks and challenges of their time.
The Party has led all the battles of the country
throughout its existence. Its ceaseless activity
and authority have allowed it to forge ahead in
the face of the difficult challenge of the special
period, and in the resolute struggle today to
confront weaknesses, overcome difficulties
and continue perfecting our socialism, always
connected with the people. The Party has
never been indifferent, and its political action
has been fitting at every moment.
With its own rules and procedures, the Party
has been consistent with its responsibility for
the destiny of the country; aware that without
it, the Revolution could not exist, because
as Fidel noted on March 14, 1974: “(...)
The vanguard organization is fundamental.
Do you know what gives security to the
Revolution? The Party. Do you know what
provides continuity to the Revolution? The
Party. Do you know what ensures the future of
the Revolution, what provides the Revolution
with life, what provides for the future of the
Revolution? The Party. Without the Party the
Revolution could not exist (...).”
In Cuba, we know the recipe of the multi-party
system that divided and weakened Cuban
society before the triumph of January 1959.
And its actions in other countries demonstrate
that it is a fallacy, because in essence the
majority of countries where this “multiparty
democracy” is exercised, particularly in
electoral processes, it aims to maintain the
status quo, with the uncompromising defense
of capitalism.
We also witnessed what happened in the
former European socialist countries. Today
the diversity of parties within these has not
freed them from the unfortunate political,
economic and social consequences of the
collapse.
Our history confirms and persuades regarding
the appropriateness of the existence of a single
party, which has made us stronger in the face of
aggression and the genocidal blockade, as well
as in the battle for the economic and social
development of the nation, the formation of
revolutionary consciousness, the preservation
of independence, sovereignty and socialism.
The campaigns, programs and activities of
political-ideological subversion of the enemy
are not random events; their purpose is to
undermine the authority of the Party, earned
through its connection with the masses, and
the unity which has been built, essential pillars
of the continuity of the Revolution.
The new stage and the challenges we face
reconfirm the Party’s role in Cuban society,
and in the preservation of the Revolution’s
accomplishments. In these new circumstances,
the Party continues at the forefront of the
people.
In the same way the Party cemented the unity
of the entire people and led the resistance
against aggressions of all kinds by successive
U.S. administrations, now it does so in a new
setting.
The current government of the United States
acknowledged (reluctantly) the failure of the
policy of open hostility toward the Revolution.
This administration has proclaimed that it aims
to achieve the same result it was pursuing, but
by other methods; it offers peaceful relations,
of friendship, but rigorously maintains and
enforces the blockade; it ignores that it must
return the territory illegally occupied in
Guantánamo to Cuba; it continues the illegal
broadcasts that violate our airwaves; it persists
with its counterrevolutionary interventionist
and subversive programs; and maintains
differentiated and politically manipulated
immigration policies for Cubans. The struggle
for truly normal relations between Cuba
and the United States will be long and this
normalization unavoidably involves the
rectification of these aggressive policies and
measures, harmful to our sovereignty.
In these circumstances, the Party’s role is
indispensable to continue on the socialist
path, consolidating our essence, promoting
revolutionary ideas, patriotism, solidarity
and anti-imperialism, the sense of social
justice, equal rights and opportunities, human
values, a democratic spirit, participation and
confidence in the socialist future.
As the editorial of the official voice of the
Central Committee, published last March
9 noted: “…the Cuban people will continue
to move forward. With our own efforts and
proven capacity and creativity, we will continue
to work for the country’s development and the
wellbeing of Cubans (…).We will persevere in
the process of updating the socio-economic
model we have chosen, and the construction
of a prosperous, sustainable socialism to
consolidate the gains to the Revolution. A
path sovereignly chosen, which will surely
be reaffirmed by the 7th Congress of the
Communist Party of Cuba, with Fidel and
Raúl victorious.”
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