Officials to meet over Castro future

[Collo]

Officials to meet over Castro future


From correspondents in Havana | December 02, 2007

A MEETING of Cuban local officials tomorrow to pick National Assembly candidates could pave the way for ailing leader Fidel Castro to return to power, or signal he is permanently leaving the presidency.

The 81-year-old communist leader must become a National Assembly candidate if he wants to remain president, and recently elected municipal representatives will gather tomorrow to nominate candidates to both the provincial and national assemblies.

Then 614 deputies chosen in January 20 elections will pick from among their ranks the 31 members of the Council of State, whose president serves as the head of the one-party state.

Castro has traditionally been proposed as a parliamentary candidate by the city of Santiago de Cuba, the country's second city in the east which is considered the cradle of the Cuban revolution.

Castro has led the council and Cuba for almost five decades but ?provisionally? handed over power to his younger brother and longtime number two Raul, 76, after undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006.

Speculation has since been rife as to whether the elder Castro would return to power, at least formally.

Cuba watchers say it is possible he might be elected deputy, but then choose not to run for re-election to the Council of State.

Still, if he is not nominated tomorrow, that could clear the way for Raul Castro to take over Cuba's presidency indefinitely.

Or Cuba could arrange a generational hand-off of power by picking another regime heavyweight for the top job.

Cuban officials insisted last year Castro would resume his full powers, but now generally steer clear from the issue, as the longtime leader continues to convalesce at an undisclosed location.

[kiwi]

Well he can't do much now he is dead.

[sniper]

He will be a very quiet backbencher

[Collo]

He will be a very quiet backbencher

Aren't they always

[kiwi]

 

[sniper]

Just announced on ABC news that Castro has officially resigned as head of state  due to poor health.

Interestingly there have been no public appearances since he fell ill.

I wonder how long till his demise is announced.

[kiwi]

Hmmm I don't know, I think his brother will be as bad as him.

[sniper]

I tend to agree