The ballot for the national and provincial assemblies takes place every five years.

That's when the country may learn whether their ailing leader Fidel Castro intends to remain as head of government.

The candidates will participate in national elections on 20 January.

There was no mention of Mr Castro when that date was announced earlier this week on state television.

But he will have to be re-elected to the national parliament if he is to remain president of the Council of State.

The country has been run by his brother, Raul, who is the vice-president of the Council, after Fidel Castro stepped aside in 2006 to undergo emergency surgery.

The 614 deputies chosen in the January elections will pick from among their midst the 31 members of the Council of State, whose president is head of state.

Fidel Castro, 81, has led the council and Cuba for almost five decades.

The ballot for the national and provincial assemblies takes place every five years.