Cuban President Raul Castro to Stay in Power Until April

VOA
22 Dec 2017, 03:35 GMT+10

Cuban President Raul Castro plans to stay in office until next April before stepping aside, two months longer than originally anticipated, which then would end nearly six decades of Castro family rule of the communist country.

Cuba's parliament on Thursday extended its legislative period by two months to April 19 because of the impact of Hurricane Irma in September. With the current council of state - the powerful group Castro heads - also staying until mid-April, it ensures that the 86-year-old leader will remain in power until then.

Castro's first vice president, Miguel Diaz Canel, 57, is expected to be Cuba's next president, even as Castro remains the leader of the Caribbean island nation's communist party.

But Castro's departure would end 59 years of Castro family rule, starting with the revolutionary takeover of the government by Fidel Castro in 1959 when he overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista. Fidel Castro died last year after relinquishing power to his brother in 2008.

Canel has pledged to continue Raul Castro's policies, including limited growth of private enterprise as part of the country's planned economy, single party rule, and tight government control of virtually all aspects of life for Cubans.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Caribbean Herald.

More Information

null in null

Business

Section

Sam’s Club fulfillment center to shut in Texas, jobs impacted

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Walmart is set to close a major Sam's Club fulfillment center in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of a shift in...

Meta wins lawsuit in California court over AI use of authors’ books

SAN FRANCISCO, California: A U.S. judge has dismissed a copyright lawsuit filed by 13 authors against Meta Platforms, the company that...

From 2028, top earners in Oman will face 5% income tax

DUBAI, U.A.E: Oman is set to introduce a personal income tax as part of its strategy to reduce dependency on hydrocarbon revenues....

U.S. stocks surge despite Trump rift with Canada

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on Friday announcing he had terminated trade talks with Canada....

United Steelworkers Union chief slams Trump over IRA move

Federal officials, then-Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb, union leaders, company representatives, and dozens of guests assembled at...

Rent freeze fears hit NYC banks, landlords as Mamdani leads

NEW YORK CITY, New York: New York City's financial markets reacted sharply this week as shares of local banks and real estate investment...

Latin America

Section