In Cuba, historically, centralization has mediated the most outstanding characters of the Municipality, with the particularities that each moment has impregnated them, but as a constant, tying the deployment of their own initiative. However, multiple and commendable transformative efforts, appreciable in its course, confirm that the decentralization actions that are currently being undertaken in the country have a long history from which it is necessary to learn and, furthermore, that they are on the right path. The Constitution places municipalities on a higher rung by consecrating municipal autonomy as a principle that should guide their organization and operation.

The paper summarizes the main gaps that affect the territorial decentralization process and offers answers to the following questions: What must be done to strengthen local powers and their autonomy? What must be ensured so that the territorial decentralization process, in the country, be effective?