The National Assembly of People's Power repealed Law 183 this Wednesday, which had been approved just seven months ago, that reduced the term of delegates to municipal assemblies from five to four years.
The decision, announced by the state-run outlet Cubadebate, sparked a flood of ironic and critical comments on social media, where Cubans openly questioned the purpose of these positions.
Law 183 had been approved in January 2026 with the argument of reorganizing the electoral calendar, which had been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under that rule, the current mandate of the delegates would have ended in November of this year.
According to Deputy José Luis Toledo Santander, the reason for its repeal was the "complex economic and social situation of the country," which made it inappropriate to call for municipal elections at this time.
With the repeal, Article 187 of the Cuban Constitution is once again applicable, which sets the period at five years.
The legislative back-and-forth did not go unnoticed. "They change laws like changing clothes, how interesting," wrote a user in the post from Cubadebate. Another summed up the episode in a single phrase: "The 7-month law."
The prevailing perception among those who commented was that the duration of the mandate is irrelevant if the delegates do not resolve anything.
"It doesn't matter if it's four or five, or even twenty, it’s all the same. A seal at four is still a seal at five and remains a seal at twenty. Their role is to say yes and applaud," quipped an internet user. Another was more straightforward: "For what they do and resolve, it’s as if they are not replaced; it’s all just a circus."
Several comments pointed to the nature of the system rather than to the delegates themselves.
"It's a farce: when the moment arrives, 100% agree with everything and everything is fine. The decisions that go to vote have already been made a long time ago; they put on more of a show than the television actors themselves," noted another user. Yet another added, "A law approved by the same beneficiaries to satisfy and improve their demands regarding services."
There were also those who linked the measure to the broader political landscape.
"The devil is in the details. It sounds to me like the first step to legitimize an extension of Díaz-Canel's mandate, let’s not forget the government," speculated a commentator. Another recalled the real priorities of the population: "Deputies, oil is at 3,000, what do I care about that law?"
The public, however, seems to have drawn its own conclusions: "That denotes a fear of having to go through validating electoral processes," wrote one user, while another concluded the debate with a brief statement: "If those below move, those above will fall."
The repeal occurred during the Seventh Ordinary Session of the X Legislature, a particularly active parliamentary day.
In addition to this measure, the Assembly approved the Labor Code, the Agricultural and Forestry Lands Law, the Housing Law, and the Law on the Organization of the Central State Administration, which includes a reduction of 92,000 positions.
The regime had turned to municipal delegates in the months leading up to address the crisis: in September 2025, they were released from their regular jobs to focus on community tasks during the blackouts, and in February 2026, the government ordered more delegates to be released to strengthen their political presence in the neighborhoods.
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