Abel Prieto Jiménez

Politician, writer, short story writer, editor and professor. Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cuba during two periods. Advisor to the President of the Councils of State and Ministers Raúl Castro. He is also a deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power and reelected in the IX Legislature by the municipality of Pinar del Río, province of Pinar del Río.

Abel studied Hispanic Literature at the University of Havana and later worked as a Literature professor. He was director of Editorial Letras Cubanas.

He was appointed president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, and later became Minister of Culture of Cuba, a position he held from 1997 until March 6, 2012, after being designated Advisor to the President of the Councils of State and Ministers.

An Official Note from the Council of State of Cuba published on March 6, 2012 announced his release from the position of Minister of Culture after 15 years in office. Given his experience and the positive results obtained during his time as Minister, he was appointed advisor to the President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba Raúl Castro.

On July 8, 2016 he was again designated Minister of Culture until July 21, 2018. During the plenary session, the National Assembly of Cuba evaluated and approved the proposal to appoint Alpidio Alonso as the new Minister.

Publications
In 1999 he published the novel "El vuelo del Gato" (Editorial Letras Cubanas) in which he moves between fiction and essay. The novel won the critics' prize in 2001, and was later published in Spain by Ediciones B.

He has written several collections of short stories, among which stand out "Los bitongos y los guapos" (1980), and "Noche de sábado" (1989). In the field of essays, he is distinguished by his studies on José Lezama Lima.

Regarding the XXI International Book Fair, his second novel, "Viajes de Miguel Luna", published by Editorial Letras Cubanas, was presented on February 13, 2012.

Decorated with the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government, the recognition is awarded to "people who distinguished themselves through their creation in the artistic and literary sector, and for the contribution they made to the splendor of the arts and letters in France and in the world".