Havana:
Cuba marked the finish of an era Monday with the official transfer of energy from the Castro clan, in charge for six decades, to the communist country’s 1st civilian leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The transition, when hugely symbolic, is unlikely to outcome in dramatic policy shifts in the one-party method that Diaz-Canel, 60, has vowed to safeguard.
“The most revolutionary thing within the Revolution is to always defend the party, in the same way that the party should be the greatest defender of the Revolution,” he mentioned on Monday.
Diaz-Canel added the outgoing leader, 89-year-old Raul Castro, would nevertheless be consulted on “strategic decisions.”
From retirement, Castro would give “direction and alert to any error or deficiency, ready to confront imperialism as he first did with his rifle,” mentioned the new leader.
Already Cuba’s president due to the fact 2018, Diaz-Canel has now also taken the most senior position of 1st secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
The pre-determined energy adjust at a 4-day PCC congress in Havana, marks a watershed for the nation of 11.2 million individuals, several of whom have not identified a leader who was not a Castro.
Fidel Castro, nevertheless revered as the country’s father and savior, led the nation from 1959 to 2006, when he fell ill and his brother took more than.
Diaz-Canel was born right after the revolution led by the Castro siblings in the 1950s, top in 1959 to the overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
The PCC congress was held 60 years right after Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state, setting up decades of conflict with the United States, which has had sanctions against the nation due to the fact 1962.
The more factors adjust
Diaz-Canel requires the reins as Cuba battles its worst financial crisis in 30 years, sky-higher inflation, biting meals shortages, extended lines for simple necessities and increasing disgruntlement more than restricted freedoms.
Cuba, one of just 5 communist nations in the world, faces continual shortages and requirements to import 80 % of what it consumes.
“Since I was born, I have only known one party,” mentioned Miguel Gainza, a 58-year-old in Havana.
“And no one dies of hunger, it’s true,” he added. But today, “we are a little stuck, and it’s a shame that Fidel is dead because he solved all our problems”.
Diaz-Canel, a suit-and-tie wearing, tech-savvy Beatles fan, when in some techniques more contemporary than the Castros with their like for military uniforms, is a staunch party disciple. Analysts say there is unlikely to be any ideological shift.
A new constitution passed in May 2019 created it clear that the country’s commitment to socialism was “irrevocable.”
There have been little nods to liberalization in current years, like the current opening up of the economy to little firms in hundreds of sectors previously below exclusive state handle.
Internet driving adjust
The online, which arrived on mobile phones on the island in 2018, has been an engine of social adjust, even used to organize protest, previously unheard of in the nation.
Young Cubans, several of whom go overseas every year for lack of possibilities at household, are increasingly venting their aggravation on social media.
In response, the PCC adopted a congress resolution to confront on line political and ideological “subversion”.
Even as the congress was underway, a group of totally free speech activists claimed their online had been reduce and police had been stopping them from leaving their houses to quit them from gathering.
Party delegates voted Sunday for a new 114-member central committee, which in turn chose the 14 members of the PCC politbureau — at the cusp of energy in Cuba.
The politbureau, with Diaz-Canel at its head, has an typical age of 61.6 and contains 3 girls. Five of the 14 are newcomers.
Ties with the United States, right after a historic but short-term easing of tensions below president Barack Obama among 2014 and 2016, worsened below Donald Trump, who reinforced sanctions.
In his final address to the party last Friday, Castro affirmed a “willingness to conduct a respectful dialogue and build a new kind of relationship with the United States.”
But he stressed the nation would not renounce “the principles of the revolution and socialism” as he urged the new generation to “zealously protect” the one-party dogma.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki mentioned Friday the United States was not organizing any quick adjust in its policy toward Cuba, which would continue to concentrate on “support for democracy and human rights.”
()