The referendum on gay marriage, same-sex adoption and surrogacy, among other topics, began this Sunday (25) in Cuba in the 24,000 qualified electoral colleges.
The first referendum on a specific law held in Cuba since the 1959 revolution began at 7 am (local time, 8 am Brasília time) and will end at 6 pm (5 pm Brasília time), according to the calendar presented by the electoral authorities.
The final result will be announced five days later, will be binding and will require a simple majority: more than 50%, in favor or against. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) should advance preliminary results on Monday (26).
Before being approved in July this year by the National Assembly (Unicameral Parliament), version 25 of the law was widely consulted between February and April in 79,000 meetings by neighborhoods and municipalities.
This is the only project that will go to referendum among the 70 legal norms updated with the new Constitution, unlike other laws such as the Penal Code. In addition, it has been published in the Official Gazette since July 22 this year.
Although the issues considered most controversial are the recognition of same-sex marriage or the possibility of adoption by same-sex couples, the vast legislative package also regulates parental responsibility and so-called joint pregnancy.
The proposed Family Code mentions gender-based violence, prohibits child marriage, and protects communication between grandparents and grandchildren in the event of divorce.
It covers other changes in the family context, such as preventing domestic aggressors from asking for custody of children, the distribution of goods and the incorporation of stepmothers and stepfathers as guardians.
The Cuban dictatorship and the entire state apparatus carried out an intense campaign in favor of the “yes” vote in the official media and social networks.
There was no articulated campaign against the text, although opponents, activists and some institutions defended mainly on the networks for abstention or “no”.
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