We must never neglect, even for a moment, the unity of the majority of Cubans around the Party and the Revolution, the unity that has helped us get here and move forward in building our socialism, said Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, at the close of the Eighth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of Popular Power (ANPP), corresponding to the Seventh Legislature.

A minute of silence in honor of the Army General Julio Casas Regueiro, opened the parliamentary day, during which it was recalled that in a few days it will be ten years since the agreement, at the Fifth Legislature, to confer the title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba on Gerardo, Antonio, René, Ramón and Fernando, the Mariana Grajales Order on their mothers and the Ana Betancourt Order their wives.

In this sense, the ANPP agreed to: "Continue to fight with courage and perseverance for the world to mobilize and for the United States government to do justice."

Adel Yzquierdo, Politburo member and Minister of Economy and Planning, presented the plan for 2012 and the economic results of 2011, where an growth of 2.7% of the GDP was estimated, 3% lower than planned. However, the economy shows favorable performance over the previous year.

Lina Pedraza, Minister of Finance and Prices, released the draft State Budget Law for 2012 and Osvaldo Martinez, president of the Economic Affairs Committee, read the report on the documents approved by the parliament.

The ongoing implementation of the Guidelines of the Sixth Party Congress was presented by Marino Murillo, vice president of the Council of Ministers.