The End of the Castros; A New Leader for Cuba to Be Elected

The National Council of Cuba began the process of reviewing the election of the country's future leader on Wednesday. This is the first time in six decades that a member outside the Castro family is expected to be elected for this position. Reports indicate that Miguel Díaz-Canel, 57, and deputy to 86-year-old Raúl Castro, is expected to be elected as the next president of Cuba. The votes for this election will be collected confidentially and will be announced to the public on Thursday after counting, along with the declaration of the winner. At the opening ceremony, Raúl Castro appeared in a suit and tie along with his cabinet, whereas he previously attended state ceremonies in military uniform. The potential election of Miguel Díaz-Canel heralds a new era of leadership in Cuba. Since the 1959 revolution, Cuba has been under the leadership of Fidel Castro and then his brother, Raúl Castro. Raúl Castro took over the leadership of the country in 2006 following Fidel Castro's illness and officially became president two years later. Relations between the U.S. and Cuba changed during Barack Obama's presidency after years of pressure and sanctions, with the U.S. officially resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba. However, Donald Trump opposed the previous U.S. president's policies towards Cuba. Washington has not officially taken a position regarding the future leadership of Cuba and the country's elections. Reports indicate that despite Miguel Díaz-Canel being from the post-revolution generation, he is considered a loyal member of the revolutionary leadership in Cuba, having grown step by step within this system, and a consensus on his leadership has now been achieved. Margarita Jiménez, a political expert on Cuban affairs, wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine: 'The previous two leaders of Cuba did not need to exert much effort for legitimacy because they were a direct result of the revolution. However, Miguel Díaz-Canel must earn his legitimacy through work and influence.' The next president of Cuba must work alongside the Communist Party and seek ways to improve the economic and living conditions of the people, particularly by expanding the private sector. One-third of Cuba's income comes from tourism. Raúl Castro pursued some reforms, allowing mobile phone networks, text messaging services, and private car sales in Cuba. The next president of Cuba will need the support and backing of Raúl Castro, who is a key figure in the Communist Party and has significant influence in the Cuban military.