HAVANA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- As lawmakers of Cuban provincial assemblies took office on Sunday, the Caribbean island continues its process of a historic generational change in leadership.
More than 7.3 million Cubans, which amounted to over 80 percent of registered voters, casted their votes on March 11 to elect lawmakers to the National Assembly of People's Power.
The elected 605 lawmakers will meet in Havana on April 19 for the first session of the National Assembly's new legislature. They will vote for the 31-member Council of State, including its president, first vice president, five vice presidents, secretary and other members.
"This voting has been preceded by consultations made to more than 99 percent of the provincial delegates, to express their opinions on who should lead the Assembly," said Gisela Duarte, president of the National Candidacy Commission.
Raul Castro, Cuba's current leader, announced in December that he would not seek re-election for a third five-year term.
It is expected that Castro's successor will be 57-year-old Miguel Diaz-Canel, the current first vice president.