The Castro Era Comes To An End -Cuba

 

CUBA

Adios Comrade

Raul Castro will step down as the head of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party, ending his family’s six decades in power that began with his late brother, Fidel Castro, NBC News reported.

Castro, 89, said during a speech at the party’s congress that he was retiring and would hand over power to a younger generation that is “full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit.”

Though he did not name a successor, Castro said in 2018 that he expected President Miguel Díaz-Canel to replace him. Analysts believe that Díaz-Canel is expected to be voted in as the party’s next secretary-general.

As he retires, Castro leaves behind a country that is facing multiple challenges exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing US economic sanctions.

One of the last communist-run nations in the world, Cuba lacks the hard currency to import food and medicine and the deteriorating situation has led to an increase in public discontent rarely seen since the 1959 communist revolution.

In November, the Caribbean nation made global headlines when hundreds of artists took to the streets to demand greater freedom of expression.

US President Joe Biden campaigned on taking a more lenient approach toward Cuba but the administration has yet to make any policy changes.

Amid skepticism, analysts suggest that Castro’s departure is important because it will urge the new generation of leaders to speed up the economic reforms promised since 2011.

Arturo López-Levy of Holy Names University in California said post-Castro leaders are trying to consolidate power: He noted that their legitimacy will not be derived “from a revolutionary background but from…(a) better performance.”

R