Havana, Cuba.- The National Candidacy Commission proposed Wednesday Esteban Lazo as Speaker of the 9th Legislature of the newly-inaugurated Cuban Parliament, nomination that will have to be ratified by direct and secret vote by the 605 lawmakers.

The incumbent Speaker is a member of the Political Bureau of the island’s Communist Party, a legislator since 1981 and has presided over the legislative house during the 8th Legislature.

The Candidacy Commission also proposed Ana Maria Mari Machado to continue as Deputy Speaker and Miriam Brito as Secretary. Both were elected to those posts in the 8th Legislature.

The 605 MPs who are meeting at Havana Convention Center, in the west of the city, will have to ratify Lazo, Mari and Brito by secret direct vote this Wednesday.

Parliament is also electing the nation’s President, the First Vice President, five Vice Presidents and the Council of State that is the hightest government body. They will be elected this Wednesday and the result will be made public tomorrow Thursday.