Havana, Cuba.- The popular consultation of the new Cuban Draft Constitution enters fourth week, during which the beginning of discussions in universities and schools of the country is foreseen.

The beginning today of the 2018-2019 school year in more than 10,000 schools and 22 universities of the island, has as a particular context the meetings already underway in neighborhoods and workplaces to analyze the letter of the constitution, a process convened by the People’s Power National Assembly from August 13 to November 15.

All Cuban citizens over 16 years of age were invited to express their opinions by the National Assembly. That body approved on July 22 the draft consisting of a total reform of the Constitution in force since 1976, while maintaining the socialist nature of the nation and the leading role in its Communist Party society.

Debates, controversies and dozens of proposals for changes, accessions and suppressions marked the first three weeks of the consultation in the 15 Cuban provinces.

Eliminating the limit age of 60 years old for a president to begin the first of two five-year mandates established in the draft, allowing the investments of Cuban residents in and outside the country, and electing the governor by popular vote (the text proposes designation), are some issued criteria.

As expected, there does not seem to be a consensus in society about the change in the institution of marriage, with a large amount people rejecting the union between two people (the current Constitution states the union between a man and a woman), while others defend same-sex marriage right.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, August 31, that the conditions for the participation in the online process of about 1,400,000 Cuban residents in about 120 countries were created, an unprecedented decision in almost 60 years of revolution.