Cuba Elects New Vice President of Parliament

Havana, Cuba, Jul 24.- Member of Parliament Ana María Mari Machado was elected for the post of Vice President of the National Assembly of the People´s Power of Cuba (Parliament) in the wake of approval of the release because of illness of Jaime Crombet from the post.

In line with the current Electoral Law, the jurist and also member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party was backed by her colleages in a voting during the 9th Ordinaty Period of Parliament in its Seventh Legislature, in session at the Havana Convention Center.

Mari Machado is vice president of the Supreme People´s Court and has the experience of running the National Electoral Commission in its previous process.

The replacement is based on a request by Crombet on the grounds of health problems, which was explained in a letter read in the plenary by President of the National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon.

The Parliament dedicated a round of applause to the outgoing vice president, to whom Alarcon described as a revolutionary characterized by his devotion and spirit of sacrifice.

"To Jaime Crombet we ask to take care of himself, so that he is able to overcome these difficult moments and we continue waging new battles together in the future," he said.

During the 9th Ordinary Period of the Seventh Legislature, the plenary of members of Parliament is discussing the the economy, the new Tax Bill and the situation of public health based on a report presented by the Health Ministry.

The session is being attended by Cuban President Raul Castro and First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura. (Radio Cadena Agramonte).