From the BBC:
“Raúl Castro steps down as
Cuban Communist Party leader”
Raúl Castro says he is resigning
as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family's six decades in power. Castro,
89, told a party congress that he is handing over the leadership to a younger
generation "full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit". His
successor will be voted in at the end of the four-day congress. The move, which
was expected, ends the era of formal leadership by him and his brother Fidel
Castro, which began with the 1959 revolution. "I believe fervently in the
strength and exemplary nature and comprehension of my compatriots," he
told party delegates in Havana on Friday. "And as long as I live I will be
ready with my foot in the stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution and
socialism."
Not unexpected, but no less
historic While the entire island knew this moment was coming, it was no
less historic or symbolic when it arrived: Cuba will be officially governed by
someone other than a Castro for the first time since 1959. The reality
is that, at least in the short term, little will change. The man who
took over from Raúl Castro as president in 2018, Miguel Díaz Canel, may well
succeed him now as the party's first secretary too. It seems likely he will be
forced to take further steps to liberalise Cuba's centrally controlled economy.
The island is currently in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the
period immediately following the end of the Cold War. As a result, private
farmers were recently permitted to sell beef and dairy products - goods
previously under the sole control of the state. Any hope of improving
ties with the US however may have to wait as the Biden administration has shown
little inclination to unpick the Trump administration's harsher sanctions on
Cuba at this stage. One thing is for sure, Raúl Castro's words of keeping
"one foot in the stirrup" means he will remain a powerbroker behind
the scenes. And by reiterating the island's eternal commitment to socialism it
means that political change remains as unlikely under his successor as it was
under his late brother, Fidel.
^ It is nice to see no more
Castros in power in Cuba. None of them (Castros) has done any good for Cuba
since they took power and made it Communist in 1959. Cubans face extremely long
lines, chronic shortages of food and other basics. It seems that Cubans are
worse off now in 2021 then they were in 1958 – before the Communists took over.
That shouldn’t surprise anyone since Communism has never done anyone good – except
for the few Communist Mass Murderers in charge. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.