Heir to the revolutionary traditions of our people, the Communist Party of Cuba arrives at this April 16th with renewed determination to defend unity, the magnificent achievements of the Revolution, and a historical legacy that spans more than a century of struggle.
It is precisely that day —when the entire people took to the sands of Playa Girón to defend socialism— that is considered the founding date of our Party.
On the 15th anniversary of the first defeat of U.S. imperialism in the Americas, on April 19th, 1976, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz stated: “It was truly at Bay of Pigs that our Marxist-Leninist Party was born; it is from that date that membership in our Party is counted; from that date on, socialism was forever cemented with the blood of our workers, peasants, and students; from that date on, the destiny of the peoples of this continent—in the freedom and dignity that one of them was winning in the face of the aggression of the powerful empire that subjugated them all—would be different. Because, whatever anyone may say, from Girón onward, all the peoples of the Americas were a little freer.”
The adversary’s policy is based on the formula “divide and conquer.” Cuba knows this from historical experience. It was not for nothing that José Martí, in assessing this factor as the cause of the failure of the Ten Years’ War, stated that “no one took our sword from our hands; rather, we let it fall ourselves.” And to organize a necessary struggle, he founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party, which has been a constant source of inspiration for subsequent generations.
The Communist Party of Cuba—unique, Martian, Fidelist, Marxist, and Leninist, the organized vanguard of the Cuban nation, grounded in its democratic character and permanent connection with the people—is the supreme political leadership of society and the State, as expressed in the Constitution of the Republic, approved by referendum in 2019.
The text of the Constitution itself establishes that the Party “organizes and guides the common efforts in the construction of socialism and the advance toward a communist society,” as well as works “to preserve and strengthen the patriotic unity of Cubans and to develop ethical, moral, and civic values.”
With this constitutional mandate and as the soul of the Cuban nation, our Party promotes the development of consciousness and the defense of solidarity, humanism, internationalism, and dedication to work.
Fidel Castro Ruz:
OUR PARTY WAS PRACTICALLY FORGED AT GIRÓN
“At Bay of Pigs, the socialist nature of our revolution was proclaimed; at Bay of Pigs, our Party was practically forged. At that time, we were working precisely on the task of uniting the revolutionary forces into a single organization (...). We can therefore say that, coinciding with that moment (...), our Party was forged. That is why April 16, the date of the proclamation of the socialist nature of our Revolution, is considered the date of our Party’s founding.”
Speech on the 20th Anniversary of the Victory at Bay of Pigs
IT IS NOT A SOURCE OF PRIVILEGES BUT OF SACRIFICES
“Serving in it is not a source of privileges but of sacrifices and total dedication to the revolutionary cause. That is why the best sons and daughters of the working class and the people join it, always ensuring quality over quantity.”
Central Ceremony for the 20th Anniversary of the Attack on the Moncada
WITHOUT THE PARTY, THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT EXIST
“The vanguard organization is fundamental. Do you know what gives the Revolution security? The Party. (...) Do you know what gives the Revolution a future, what gives the Revolution life, what gives the Revolution a future? The Party. Without the Party, the Revolution could not exist”
PCC Review Assembly in the Eastern Province
THE PARTY IS THE REVOLUTIONARY SOUL OF THE PEOPLE
The Party is the most formidable instrument of the Revolution; it is what gives the Revolution direction, strength, and historical continuity. A Revolution that belongs to no one in particular, (...) but a Revolution that depends on the people. Men pass away—as we once said—but the Party is immortal. The Party is the revolutionary soul of the people (...)”.
Main ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the attack on the Moncada
Raúl Castro Ruz:
COMBAT DEFECTS, NOT MEN
Party organizations have a duty to teach and educate all their members in the correct use and understanding of criticism, based on the Commander-in-Chief’s concept of: “combat defects, not men.”
Closing Address at the Second Organizational Meeting of the Communist Party of Cuba in the Revolutionary Armed Forces
SURE GUARANTEE OF THE NATION’S UNITY
Only the Communist Party, the sure guarantee of the unity of the Cuban nation, can be a worthy heir to the trust placed by the people in their leader. It is the supreme leading force of society and the State, as established in Article 5th of our Constitution, approved in a referendum by exactly 97.7% of voters.
Speech at the constituent session of the 7th Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power
AUTHORITY AMONG THE MASSES
The Party draws on the strength and experience gained during these difficult years of the Special Period. Nevertheless, its leaders, cadres, and members must work to continue improving its work and its authority among the masses.
Speech at the 6th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba
MORAL AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE’S TRUST
The Party’s power rests fundamentally on its moral authority, on the influence it exerts over the masses, and on the trust the people place in it. The Party’s actions are based, above all, on the conviction that emanates from its deeds and the correctness of its political line.
Central Report to the 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez:
PARTY MEMBERSHIP AS AN ACT OF DEDICATION
We must take pride in joining the ranks of the Party and understand Party membership as an act of dedication to the ideals that the organization defends with passion, joy, and responsibility.
Speech at the Closing of the 8th Party Congress
PEOPLE AND UNITY, THAT IS TO SAY, THE PARTY
That history can be summed up in two words: People and Unity, which is to say, the Party. Because the Communist Party of Cuba, which has never been an electoral party, was not born of division. It was born of the unity of all political forces with deeply humanistic ideals that had been forged in the struggle to transform an unequal and unjust country (...).
Speech at the closing of the 8th Party Congress
CONTINUITY OF THE HISTORICAL LEGACY
We follow a principle: “Unity, Continuity, and Creative Resistance.” Unity around the Party, the Revolution, and the Marxist, Martí, and Fidelist ideology. Continuity of the historical legacy and the work we are building. Creative resistance so that, in the midst of shortages, we can create, innovate, and move forward.
Speech at the closing of the 6th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of People’s Power
A MASS PARTY
This is not an elite Party; it is a mass Party. We cannot lead based on reports; we must and have to lead with the people, looking at problems head-on and in depth, and confronting them with the greatest possible degree of popular participation. Only from a collective and committed perspective can the harsh data on the economy’s performance in recent months be calmly assessed (...).
Closing of the 11th Plenary Session of the Party’s Central Committee
