Castro rule in Cuba nears end as Miguel Diaz-Canel named sole candidate for leadership change

Source: The Washington Post




By Anthony Faiola April 18 at 12:29 PM

[Breaking News: The Castro era approaches an end as Miguel Diaz-Canel is named the sole official candidate to replace Presidente Raul Castro.]

HAVANA — Cuba’s National Assembly opened a historic session Wednesday that will shift power outside the Castro family for the first time since communist forces swept to victory almost 60 years ago.

The official Granma news service said the 605 assembly members would vote for the new president of the council of state — effectively Cuba’s top job. In an unusual twist, the name will be held in reserve and announced on Thursday. Typically, the succession in Cuba happens in one day.

At the start of the session, President Raúl Castro, in a dark suit and red tie, entered the legislative hall to thunderous applause. Alongside Castro was his first vice president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is tipped to replace him as Cuba’s first leader outside the Castro family since the ouster of a U.S.-backed government in 1959.

The departure of Raúl Castro, 86, who took over Cuba’s leadership from his elder brother Fidel Castro in 2008, is not expected to lead to radical change.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/in-cubas-national-assembly-raul-castro-marks-last-moments-of-his-familys-rule/2018/04/18/82f82cd4-4293-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html