Cuba finally has to move from Castro era
Cuba marked the end of an era on Monday, April 20th with the official transfer of power from the Castro clan, in charge for six decades, to the communist country's first civilian leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The transition, while hugely symbolic, is unlikely to result in dramatic policy shifts in the one-party system that Mr. 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," Mr. Diaz-Canel said on Monday.
Mr. Diaz-Canel added the outgoing leader, 89-year-old Raul Castro, would still be consulted on "strategic decisions."
From retirement, Mr. Castro would give "direction and alert to any error or deficiency, ready to confront imperialism as he first did with his rifle," said the new leader.
Already Cuba's president since 2018, Mr. Diaz-Canel has now also taken the most senior position of the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).
The pre-determined power change at a four-day PCC congress in Havana marks a watershed for the country of 11.2 million people, many of whom have not known a leader who was not a Castro.
Fidel Castro, still revered as the country's father and saviour, led the country from 1959 to 2006, when he fell ill, and his brother took over.
Mr. Diaz-Canel was born after the revolution led by the Castro siblings in the 1950s, leading in 1959 to the overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
The PCC congress was held 60 years after Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state, setting up decades of conflict with the United States, which has had sanctions against the country since 1962.
Internet driving change
The internet, which arrived on mobile phones on the island in 2018, has been an engine of social change, even used to organize the protest, previously unheard of.
Young Cubans, many of whom go overseas each year for lack of opportunities at home, are increasingly venting their frustration on social media.
In response, the PCC adopted a congress resolution to confront online political and ideological "subversion".
The more things change.
Miguel Diaz-Canel takes the reins as Cuba battles its worst economic crisis in 30 years, sky-high inflation, biting food shortages, long lines for necessities, and growing disgruntlement over limited freedoms.
Cuba, one of just five communist countries globally, faces constant shortages and needs to import 80 percent of what it consumes.
Since I was born, I have only known one party," said 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".
Mr. Diaz-Canel, a suit-and-tie-wearing, tech-savvy Beatles fan, while in some ways more modern than the Castros with their love for military uniforms, is a staunch party disciple.
Analysts say there is unlikely to be an ideological shift.
A new constitution passed in May 2019 made it clear that its commitment to socialism was "irrevocable."
There have been small nods to liberalization in recent years, including the recent opening up of the economy to small businesses in hundreds of sectors previously under exclusive state control.
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