www.expressindia.com - Weather | Horoscope | Stocks | RSS
expressindia web city
HomeBlogsCricketAstrologyShopping TendersClassifieds Opinions Jobs Hotels
Sign In / Register | Archive
Expressindia » Story

Cubans to vote as Castro's future remains a mystery

Font Size

Agencies

Posted: Jan 20, 2008 at 1126 hrs IST

Havana, January 20: Cubans cast show-of-support votes for a new National Assembly, which will choose the country's President amid doubts about whether ailing Fidel Castro will retake the reins of the only communist government in the Americas.

Castro, who has been sidelined from power for nearly 18 months following major intestinal surgery, is among 614 uncontested candidates for the legislature, which will name 31 lawmakers to the Council of State led by the President.

The election is free of surprises and choices. But the new assembly will be closely watched as it will name by March 5 a new President amid widespread speculation over whether it will pick someone else other than Fidel Castro for the first time in almost five decades.

The 81-year-old leader's future has been a major question mark since he handed power to his brother and defence chief Raul, now 76, on July 31, 2006, officially on an temporary basis while he recovers from surgery.

The communist leader, who took power in 1959, has given contradictory signals about his plans for the future.

In December, he announced for the first time that he would not ‘cling to power’ or obstruct the rise of a new generation of leaders.

Fidel Castro, who has cherished delivering long speeches to huge crowds, has never appeared in public since announcing his surgery and has only appeared in videos or still pictures.

While he appears on the ballot for a deputy seat in Santiago de Cuba's District 7, Castro admitted he was too frail to meet with the residents of the southeast region.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

SC notice to Centre on Delhi HC verdict on gay sex

China objected to ADB funds for Arunachal: Krishna to RS

Top guns to sit on AI advisory board

We know talks are important, but end violence first: India to Pak

CBI waiting in the wings as CID investigates Ranbir's 'murder'

Varun security issue: Sushma not happy with PC's briefing

Hooch Tragedy: Death toll climbs to 86, bootleggers detained

More
© 2009 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
The Indian Express Group | Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Work With Us | Site Map