An unprecedented event is taking place in Cuba on Sunday.

For the first time in the history of the single-party system nation, there will be at least two government opponents standing in municipal elections in the erstwhile hermetic island nation.

The two men that are standing for places on local councils in Havana are Hildebrando Chaviano, an independent journalist and lawyer, and Yuniel Lopez, a member of an outlawed political party called the Independent and Democratic Cuba Party.

As reported by the BBC, Chaviano and Lopez have both informed foreign press agencies that they believe that the Cuban government was surprised by the strength of their support in the opening round of the election process.

The two candidates, as with half of the 27,000 candidates standing for municipal posts, were selected by a show of hands in a local neighborhood meeting. The final round of the elections will be done via secret vote, and there is no campaigning involved at all.

Chaviano spoke of the rarity of the political situation he found himself in, saying: "We have to take advantage of the moment."

"No one from the government was expecting us to be nominated and even less that we would become candidates," he added.

Lopez also talked about the changing attitudes on the island country. "Some people say that there is fear in Cuba, and I say that people have lost their fear," he said.

The candidates are both respectively running for seats on municipal assemblies that will oversee local matters which include water supplies, street repairs, as well as insect fumigation.

The fact that dissidents are now on the ballot is an indication that -- in appearance at least -- Cuban authorities may be easing up on their long-held control over the political system.

This would be in line with the many changes occurring in Cuba, as President Raul Castro and President Obama have announced that their nations would work, after decades of tension, towards a restoration of normal relations.

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