Two-thirds of Cuban voters supported in a referendum the family code propagated by the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, which allows for the legalization of same-sex marriage and surrogacy (“surrogacy”), according to official data released this Monday.
The president of the National Electoral Council (CEN), Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez, has today indicated that 66.78% of the valid votes (more than 3.9 million) have approved the current reform, after rejecting the new legislation, 33, 13% (more of 1.9 million).
The result, which will not change in some districts despite the count, brings the employment rate to about 74%. The head of CEN congratulated the population for their involvement in the process, official media reported.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel also welcomed the results of the consultation via a video posted on Twitter.
Ya let’s point out to vote. #SiCode pic.twitter.com/xxOrDu3Kms
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) September 25, 2022
The referendum on the Code of Families was the first to focus on private law and the third in general terms to have taken place in Cuba since the triumph of the revolution in 1959.
The expanded text, a standard family law law that amends the law in effect since 1975, includes the adoption of children by gay couples and the prohibition of child marriage, as well as addressing gender-based violence, in addition to gay marriage and surrogacy on the island.
Before being approved by the National Assembly (one-chamber parliament) in July 2022, version 25 of the Code of Families was widely consulted by the Cuban population in approximately 70,000 neighborhood and municipal assemblies between February and April.
Unlike other laws, including the Criminal Code, this is the only project that has been subject to a referendum of the 70 legal standards that were updated after the introduction of the new constitution.
The announcement of the results coincided with a meeting led by Díaz-Canel to examine the evolution of Hurricane Ian, which is approaching the Caribbean island.
Source: DN
