Cuba's Raul Castro Announces Retirement In 5 Years

Cuba's Raul Castro announces retirement in 5 years Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 8:16 pm, Sunday, February 24, 2013 HAVANA (AP) — Raul Castro announced Sunday that he will step down as Cuba's president in 2018 following a final five-year term, for the first time putting a date on the end of the Castro era. The 81-year-old Castro also said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency — an astonishing prospect for a nation led by Castro or his older brother Fidel since their 1959 revolution. Since taking over from Fidel in 2006, Castro has instituted a slate of important economic and social changes, expanding private enterprise, legalizing a real estate market and relaxing hated travel restrictions. "If dictator Raul Castro states that he will retire in five years, there will still be no real change for the Cuban people so long as the Castro brothers remain in any form of leadership position, even behind the scenes," she said. While few things are ever clear in Cuba's hermetically sealed news environment, rumblings that Diaz-Canel, an electrical engineer by training and ex-minister of higher education, might be in line for a senior post have grown. In recent weeks, he has frequently been featured on state television news broadcasts in an apparent attempt to raise his profile. Lazo, who turns 69 on Tuesday, is a vice president and member of the Communist Party's ruling political bureau. The legislature also named as vice presidents of the ruling Council Machado Ventura; comptroller general Gladys Bejerano; second Vice President Ramiro Valdes; Havana Communist Party secretary Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea; and Salvador Valdes Mesa, head of Cuba's labor union.

BING NEWS:
  • Athletic Bilbao veteran Raúl García announces retirement plan
    Raúl García will close his career when his contract with Athletic Bilbao expires at the end of the season. García, now 37, left Atletico Madrid for Athletic ...
    04/15/2024 - 5:37 am | View Link
  • Raul Castro to lead Cuba's Communist Party
    Havana, Cuba (CNN)-- Cuba's Communist Party elected President Raul Castro on Tuesday to succeed his older brother Fidel Castro as head of the country's highest political body and only legal party.
    04/19/2011 - 1:00 am | View Link
  • More

 

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

More World News