Posted on 04/16/2021 6:15:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
HAVANA—Raul Castro confirmed he was handing over the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party to a younger generation at its congress that kicked off on Friday, ending six decades of rule by himself and older brother Fidel.
In a speech opening the four-day event, Castro, 89, said the new leadership were party loyalists with decades of experience working their way up the ranks and were “full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit.”
Castro had said at the last party congress in 2016 it would be the last one led by the “historic generation” who fought in the Sierra Maestra to topple a U.S.-backed dictator in the 1959 leftist revolution. He already handed over the presidency to protege Miguel Diaz-Canel, 60, in 2018.
The congress is the party’s most important meeting, held every five years to review policy and fix leadership.
“I believe fervently in the strength and exemplary nature and comprehension of my compatriots, and as long as I live I will be ready with my foot in the stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution and socialism,” Castro told hundreds of party delegates gathered at a convention center in Havana.
The congress is a closed-door event but excerpts are being broadcast on state television.
Castro, who launched a raft of social and economic reforms to open up Cuba after inheriting the leadership from Fidel in 2008, hailed Diaz-Canel as one of the new generation of leaders.
Castro’s olive green military fatigues contrasted with the civil get-up of his protege, who is widely expected to succeed him as party first secretary, the most powerful position in Cuba’s one-party system.
Older Cubans said they would miss having a Castro at the helm, although most acknowledged it was time to pass on the baton.
(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...
Yeah, right, as if they would do anything without his approval.
Raul Castro? He’s still croaking all those Communist lies?
So soon?!
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The Kennedy’s caused so much damage to this country. Ted was the worst because he lived the longest. JFK should have taken out Castro
RE: JFK should have taken out Castro
Ha ha ha. He left the Cuban anti-Castro fighters in the Bay of Pigs to be slaughtered ( like pigs ).
Let me guess the new Cuban leader will be Chinese.
They already are.
Isn’t Camel-la a disciple?
A fact of Cuban hegemony in the US [those Cuban imperialist running dogs]
He should come here then. Our communist party ( Democrats ) is riding high and looking for a dictator for life to run the whole thing.
You mean Hirrary Crinton?
The Cuban American are some of the most patriotic. My hope is someday Cuba come around.
- In every way except genetically.
Anybody fighting back the tears? Me, neither.
Like the ridiculous Time Magazine cover story in the past “the Lion in winter” about Fidel Castro——not mentioning the “hero” was directly responsible for the slaughter of so many people. Including his trials and executions of political rivals and enemies after his revolution victory.
LOL
Those 1957 Chevys keep amazing collector value.
Retiring? Deciding to cash in on his pension benefits...I guess.
Kamala taking his place?
Cuban medial care.
(ducking)
The good ones were expropriated in the 80s and sold in Europe for hard currency. The vintage cars remaining are a hodgepodge of Eastern Bloc components under the hood, and give a new meaning to the word “hybrid”.
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