Commissioner Diaz supports free elections in Cuba

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz is sponsoring a resolution urging the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, and the Organization of American States not to recognize any transition of power in Cuba made without free and multiparty elections and to support the self-determination of the Cuban people. The resolution is scheduled for consideration at the Tuesday, Feb. 6 Commission meeting in the County Commission Chamber at the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st St. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m.

This March, Cuba is expected to select a new president to replace Raul Castro in elections that are widely expected to be a sham, with no opposition candidates allowed on the ballot.

“The Cuban people deserve the right to decide their own future in a free, open, and multiparty presidential election, not a sham election orchestrated by the Communist regime,” Commissioner Diaz said.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Diaz will present Cuban pro-democracy human rights activist Rosa María Payá Acevedo with a proclamation honoring her work as president of the Latin-American Youth Network for Democracy and coordinator of Cuba Decide, an international campaign that seeks change through free elections in Cuba.