Guardian

CUBANS may soon witness an era of younger generation of leaders taking over power in the single-party state as Fidel Castro and the nation’s communist party have reportedly given the green light for reforms paving the way for the new order, according to the state media.

However, as expected, Cuba’s National Assembly re-elected Castro’s 82-year-old brother Raul during its Sunday’s session to serve a second and final five-year presidential term.

But the assembly also promoted Miguel Diaz-Canel, 52, already a member of the Council of State, to a senior vice presidency of body, making him the number two figure in the regime.

The official newspaper, Granma, said Monday that the changes were approved on Sunday at a meeting of the Communist Party central committee, whose members had not been told in advance of the changes.

Castro, 86, attended Sunday’s meeting, in which the National Assembly that was elected on February 3 with no opposition candidates convened.