Fidel Castro's resignation: long-awaited, yet surprising

Feb 19, 2008, 17:55 GMT

Cars pass by at the Malecon in Havana, Cuba, 19 February 2008. Cuban president Fidel Castro renounced his presidency and military leadership today, after more than a year of illness and absence from the job. He handed over power to his brother Raul in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery. The 81 year old has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. EPA/ALEJANDRO ERNESTO

Havana - Cubans had been awaiting Sunday with great excitement. They had hoped to finally find out during the new National Assembly's first session what role their ailing leader Fidel Castro, 81, was to take on in the communist island's future.

However, the 'Lider Maximo' changed the plan, when he said Tuesday that he will 'neither aspire to nor accept the positions of President of the State Council and Commander in Chief.'

Now the National Assembly, elected last month, will for the first time in close to half-a-century, have to choose a new leadership without Fidel Castro on Sunday.

The announcement of Castro's resignation appeared to be a well- rehearsed move. The state news agency Prensa Latina showed it next to the visit of the vice president of Ghana and protests in Serbia against the self-declared independence of Kosovo.

And the Communist Party daily Granma initially published the historic development only in its online edition.

The truth is that a team of younger politicians have long been steering Cuba under Castro's brother Raul Castro, 76.

The elderly leader, who ruled for 47 years, underwent surgery for a severe intestinal condition in July 2006 and has not been seen in public since.

His refusal to return to power suggests that this will remain the same, and not just for health reasons - the first steps towards reform have already been taken.

The new National Assembly is an apparent example of the change that lies before the younger generation. Over 60 per cent of the newly-elected legislators were born after the success of Castro's revolution in 1959. Only a small minority of them lived in capitalist times before that.

Castro himself spoke of the important decisions that the new legislature will have to make.

He has said several times in recent weeks that he did not intend to 'cling to' power and that he meant to make room for the young. The young, in turn, made every effort to give further evidence of their loyalty to Castro.

National Assembly Speaker Ricardo Alarcon said he would vote for Castro 'with both hands,' and Vice President Carlos Lage also made it clear he would favour the elderly leader.

However, such comments were made on the condition that Castro's recovery would be complete.

'I hope he continues to recover in such a satisfactory way as he has so far,' Alarcon said. 'When he is ready, he will be in a position to take on his functions again.'

However, Castro himself said even before the election last month that he was no longer in a position to appear in public.

He has made all important decisions in Cuba since 1959. In July 2006, he declared himself ill and he himself designated who was to hold power in his place. The likely successors left it up to their long-time leader to decide whether he ever returned to power.

Only poor health, age and the finite nature of human life pushed him aside.

The uncertainty and the questions of many analysts have now been made irrelevant - some answered and some not. Like he has since he 'temporarily' gave up power to his brother, Castro will in future remain 'a soldier in the battle of ideas,' far from current politics, but expressing his opinion on issues he considers crucial for humanity.

Continuity in the Cuban government is guaranteed. There has been no chaos and no counter-revolution in Cuba since he stepped out of the limelight.

People on the street see no difference, whether Castro is in power or not.

'The president was always him (Fidel Castro). He will always remain the leader. And if it is not Fidel, it will be Raul,' said Juan.