After the resignation of Fidel Castro, who is in charge in Cuba?
For the moment, it is Raul Castro, Fidel’s younger brother and armed forces chief. Raul, 76, took over in July 2006 as acting president after his brother underwent surgery and stepped down temporarily. Cuba’s National Assembly meets Sunday. What is the significance of that? Cuba’s new president is expected to emerge on Sunday when the newly elected National Assembly meets in Havana. The 614 delegates will elect the new president as well as five vice-presidents and a 31-member Council of State, the country’s top executive branch of government. Who will be the new president? That is really hard to say. Fidel’s natural successor is Raul, though Raul doesn’t like the political spotlight. Some analysts speculate that the job could go to Vice President Carlos Lage, 56, who represents a new generation of Cuban politicians. Fidel hinted as much himself in his resignation letter on Tuesday. “There is also the intermediate generation which learned together with us the basics of the complex and a
