Cuban dissidents in electoral challenge as Castro era nears endHAVANA (Reuters) - Opponents of the Cuban government are putting forward an unprecedented number of candidates for municipal elections in late October, the first step in a process to select a new president after nearly 60 years of the Castro brothers  rule. The electoral cycle comes at a tricky time for the Caribbean nation as the Castros  revolutionary generation dies off, an economic reform program appears stalled, aid from key ally Venezuela shrinks, and the Trump administration threatens. The municipal vote, the only part of the electoral process with direct participation by ordinary Cubans, is expected to attract 35,000 candidates for the island s 168 municipal assemblies. It will be followed by provincial and national assembly elections in which candidates are selected from slates by commissions. The new national assembly will in late February select a successor to President Raul Castro, 86, who has announced he will step aside after two terms. Raul, younger brother and successor to Fidel Castro who died in November, will retain a grip on power as head of the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba. The elections are being cast in state-run media as a show of support for the Castros  1959 revolution rather than an opportunity to debate the pressing issues. Campaigning is prohibited and candidates for the 12,515 ward delegate positions are nominated at neighborhood meetings based on their personal merits, not policy positions. They need not belong to the Communist Party and many candidates are independents but only few government opponents have ever competed. During the last election, the three dissidents nominated lost at the polls.  This year, however, one coalition of opposition groups, Otro18 (Other18), says it is running more than 160 candidates in the municipal elections, demanding electoral reform and government transparency.  This is unheard of,  said Boris Gonzalez, 41, one of the aspiring Otro18 candidates, explaining they wanted to challenge the Communist Party from within the system. Otro18 spokesman Manuel Cuesta Morua said in an interview that its candidates had faced harassment and threats by state security forces for months and had been warned not to participate. The government has not responded to these accusations.    The Communist Party says it does not intervene in the elections, but a video circulating on social media of First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Raul Castro s probable successor, suggested otherwise.  There are six initiatives for the 2018 elections that seek to propose counter-revolutionaries as candidates,  Diaz-Canel told Communist Party cadres in the video.  We are taking steps to discredit all that.   In this battle, which we are already fighting, we are going to be involved in this whole process in the second half of the year,  he said. The government has not commented on the video. Cuba brands all dissenters as mercenaries funded by foreign governments and exiles, out to topple the government. Even if a few dissident candidates beat the odds and are elected to municipal assemblies, they have little chance of getting any further. The candidates for the provincial and national assemblies are nominated by commissions composed of representatives of Communist Party-controlled organizations such as the trade union federation and Committees in Defense of the Revolution. The slates have had the same number of names as seats in previous elections. Up to 50 percent of those names must be ward delegates. After the general election, the assemblies elect their respective executives and on Feb. 24 the new National Assembly is scheduled to name a new president and other members of the Council of State.  I have never voted for anyone important, not even our president,  said retired air force mechanic and staunch Castro-supporter Eduardo, who requested his last name not be used.  I can only vote for my neighborhood representative and they never go anywhere,  he said,  but I still think it s a better system than one based on money and lies.  worldnews
cuban dissidents electoral challenge castro era nears endhavana reuters opponents cuban government putting forward unprecedented number candidates municipal elections late october first step process select new president nearly years castro brothers rule the electoral cycle comes tricky time caribbean nation castro revolutionary generation dies economic reform program appears stalled aid key ally venezuela shrinks trump administration threatens the municipal vote part electoral process direct participation ordinary cuban expected attract candidates island municipal assemblies it followed provincial national assembly elections candidates selected states commissions the new national assembly late february select successor president raul castro announced step aside two terms raul younger brother successor fide castro died november retain grip power head communist party legal party cuba the elections cast media show support castro revolution rather opportunity debate pressing issues campaigning prohibited candidates ward delegate positions nominated neighborhood meetings based personal merits policy positions they need belong communist party many candidates independents government opponents ever competed during last election three dissidents nominated lost polls this year however one coalition opposition groups says running candidates municipal elections demanding electoral reform government transparency this unheard said boris gonzalez one aspiring candidates explaining wanted challenge communist party within system spokesman manuel cesta mora said interview candidates faced harassment threats state security forces months warned participate the government responded accusations the communist party says intervene elections video circulating social media first vice president miguel raul castro probable successor suggested otherwise there six initiatives elections seek propose candidates told communist party cadres video we taking steps discredit in battle already fighting going involved whole process second half year said the government commented video cuba brands dissenters mercenaries funded foreign governments exiles topple government even dissident candidates beat odds elected municipal assemblies little chance getting the candidates provincial national assemblies nominated commissions composed representatives communist organizations trade union federation committees defense revolution the states number names seats previous elections up percent names must ward delegates after general election assemblies elect respective executives new national assembly scheduled name new president members council state i never voted anyone important even president said retired air force mechanic staunch eduardo requested last name used i vote neighborhood representative never go anywhere said i still think better system one based money lies worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Cuban dissidents in electoral challenge as Castro era nears endHAVANA (Reuters) - Opponents of the Cuban government are putting forward an unprecedented number of candidates for municipal elections in late October, the first step in a process to select a new president after nearly 60 years of the Castro brothers  rule. The electoral cycle comes at a tricky time for the Caribbean nation as the Castros  revolutionary generation dies off, an economic reform program appears stalled, aid from key ally Venezuela shrinks, and the Trump administration threatens. The municipal vote, the only part of the electoral process with direct participation by ordinary Cubans, is expected to attract 35,000 candidates for the island s 168 municipal assemblies. It will be followed by provincial and national assembly elections in which candidates are selected from slates by commissions. The new national assembly will in late February select a successor to President Raul Castro, 86, who has announced he will step aside after two terms. Raul, younger brother and successor to Fidel Castro who died in November, will retain a grip on power as head of the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba. The elections are being cast in state-run media as a show of support for the Castros  1959 revolution rather than an opportunity to debate the pressing issues. Campaigning is prohibited and candidates for the 12,515 ward delegate positions are nominated at neighborhood meetings based on their personal merits, not policy positions. They need not belong to the Communist Party and many candidates are independents but only few government opponents have ever competed. During the last election, the three dissidents nominated lost at the polls.  This year, however, one coalition of opposition groups, Otro18 (Other18), says it is running more than 160 candidates in the municipal elections, demanding electoral reform and government transparency.  This is unheard of,  said Boris Gonzalez, 41, one of the aspiring Otro18 candidates, explaining they wanted to challenge the Communist Party from within the system. Otro18 spokesman Manuel Cuesta Morua said in an interview that its candidates had faced harassment and threats by state security forces for months and had been warned not to participate. The government has not responded to these accusations.    The Communist Party says it does not intervene in the elections, but a video circulating on social media of First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Raul Castro s probable successor, suggested otherwise.  There are six initiatives for the 2018 elections that seek to propose counter-revolutionaries as candidates,  Diaz-Canel told Communist Party cadres in the video.  We are taking steps to discredit all that.   In this battle, which we are already fighting, we are going to be involved in this whole process in the second half of the year,  he said. The government has not commented on the video. Cuba brands all dissenters as mercenaries funded by foreign governments and exiles, out to topple the government. Even if a few dissident candidates beat the odds and are elected to municipal assemblies, they have little chance of getting any further. The candidates for the provincial and national assemblies are nominated by commissions composed of representatives of Communist Party-controlled organizations such as the trade union federation and Committees in Defense of the Revolution. The slates have had the same number of names as seats in previous elections. Up to 50 percent of those names must be ward delegates. After the general election, the assemblies elect their respective executives and on Feb. 24 the new National Assembly is scheduled to name a new president and other members of the Council of State.  I have never voted for anyone important, not even our president,  said retired air force mechanic and staunch Castro-supporter Eduardo, who requested his last name not be used.  I can only vote for my neighborhood representative and they never go anywhere,  he said,  but I still think it s a better system than one based on money and lies.  worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: cuban dissidents electoral challenge castro era nears endhavana reuters opponents cuban government putting forward unprecedented number candidates municipal elections late october first step process select new president nearly years castro brothers rule the electoral cycle comes tricky time caribbean nation castro revolutionary generation dies economic reform program appears stalled aid key ally venezuela shrinks trump administration threatens the municipal vote part electoral process direct participation ordinary cuban expected attract candidates island municipal assemblies it followed provincial national assembly elections candidates selected states commissions the new national assembly late february select successor president raul castro announced step aside two terms raul younger brother successor fide castro died november retain grip power head communist party legal party cuba the elections cast media show support castro revolution rather opportunity debate pressing issues campaigning prohibited candidates ward delegate positions nominated neighborhood meetings based personal merits policy positions they need belong communist party many candidates independents government opponents ever competed during last election three dissidents nominated lost polls this year however one coalition opposition groups says running candidates municipal elections demanding electoral reform government transparency this unheard said boris gonzalez one aspiring candidates explaining wanted challenge communist party within system spokesman manuel cesta mora said interview candidates faced harassment threats state security forces months warned participate the government responded accusations the communist party says intervene elections video circulating social media first vice president miguel raul castro probable successor suggested otherwise there six initiatives elections seek propose candidates told communist party cadres video we taking steps discredit in battle already fighting going involved whole process second half year said the government commented video cuba brands dissenters mercenaries funded foreign governments exiles topple government even dissident candidates beat odds elected municipal assemblies little chance getting the candidates provincial national assemblies nominated commissions composed representatives communist organizations trade union federation committees defense revolution the states number names seats previous elections up percent names must ward delegates after general election assemblies elect respective executives new national assembly scheduled name new president members council state i never voted anyone important even president said retired air force mechanic staunch eduardo requested last name used i vote neighborhood representative never go anywhere said i still think better system one based money lies worldnews