Fidel Castro resigns as Cuba's president

[TwnklToes80]

HAVANA - An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.

The end of Castro's rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006. President Bush said he hopes the resignation signals the beginning of a democratic transition.

"My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath," Castro wrote in a letter published Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma. But, he wrote, "it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer."



more here (http://http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080219/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/fidel_castro;_ylt=AkF5EpxNOXLXQ1lU.j.YCHO9F4l4)

[Rosebud]

WOW!! :eek:

I am very, very curious to see what happens next. Fidel's brother will probably want to assume the presidency. But what do the Cuban people want?

[Mindy3094]

WOW!!
My thoughts exactly! I am very curious to see what happens next.

[yby1]

This surprises me. I thought he would die before he would resign.

We'll see what happens in Cuba. Raul will probably continue the regime.

I'm *really* interested on how the US government will react to this.

[villanelle75]

I suspect he resigned (instead of holding out for death) in order to give as much legitimacy as possible to his bro.

In the end, I doubt Raul will change much, especially with Fidel lurking over his shoulder. . I know this is a hot topic, but I do think that even without significant change, the U.S. should at least consider the regime change as an opportunity to change our policy WRT Cuba.

[yby1]

I suspect he resigned (instead of holding out for death) in order to give as much legitimacy as possible to his bro.

In the end, I doubt Raul will change much, especially with Fidel lurking over his shoulder. . I know this is a hot topic, but I do think that even without significant change, the U.S. should at least consider the regime change as an opportunity to change our policy WRT Cuba.

I certainly hope so. Trade with US will certainly revitalize Cuba. If the US can trade with China and even, to some extent, North Korea, They can certainly establish a new trade relationship with Cuba.

[Dally]

I suspect we'll hear about his death in the next month or two. He's probably very close to death now, but wants to make sure that the country is in the hands of another (likely hand picked) leader before he dies.

[villanelle75]

Is there a logical successor for Raul once he's gone? At 70-something himself, he doesn't exactly have years and years of time left to hold the reigns.

[yby1]

Is there a logical successor for Raul once he's gone? At 70-something himself, he doesn't exactly have years and years of time left to hold the reigns.


Not yet.

The official pointed out that there has been "no measurable change" in governance since Raúl took over. Finally, the official indicated that there is no heir apparent to 76-year-old Raúl Castro.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/19/castro/index.html

[villanelle75]

That's when it could get interesting then. With no clear successor, it seems very likely that there will be a power struggle and that several people might fight for the position, which seems like a situation that would likely cause the Cuban people to form various factions and fight for their guy, which ultimately would be a fight for a say in their government. Unless Raul picks and heir before he goes. And even then, no one questions Fidel's choice because he was Fidel, with all the power and "respect" he had. But Raul doesn't have that so his selection seems to have a lot more potential to be disputed.

[yby1]

It has the potential to get messy, especially if US factions become involved. I really hope they won't become involved, but that's asking too much.

I just hope that the new administration can work with Raul remove the trade embargo.
IMO, this embargo is just was damaging to the Cuban people as the current regime.

I hope that things change for the better in Cuba, I think they have a great education system that can thrive if given certain freedoms.

[villanelle75]

It would be nice if we would stay out of it, but share your skepticism about that.

And I think the embargo hurt the Cuban people far more than it hurt the regime. That's the way it always is.