Catherine Sasman
22 February 2008
Windhoek — President of Cuba Fidel Castro (81) will remain active in politics although he has indicated that he will not be available for re-election as the nation's president, said Cuban Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Vilma Vallejera.
The Cuban leader for the last 49 years announced in a communiqué on February 18 that he would neither aspire nor accept the positions of president of the State Council and Commander-in-Chief.
"[It] would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer," wrote Castro to his fellow compatriots.
"But he will still be there in his advice and reflections," said Villajera, who characteristed the Cuban leader as courageous, principled and having advanced social justice in that country.
The Cuban leader has been suffering from protracted ill health, and the first Vice President, his brother Raul (76),
who is the Minister of Armed Forces, acted on his behalf for about a year and a half. The election of State Council members will take place on Sunday, where the new president, the first vice president and five vice presidents will be chosen.
This election was preceded by the local authorities election in November last year and the National Assembly elections on January 20 this year.
Villajera said that although Raul Castro is likely to stand a good chance of being elected in the presidential position, there are also other ministers from a younger generation who are also favourites of the Cuban nation. Strong contenders are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Filipe Perez Roque (42) and Vice President for Economic Affairs, Carlos Lage.
"They are all very dear to the Cuban nation," said Villajera.
Before being elected as President of Cuba, Fidel Castro served as the Commander-in-Chief, and then the Prime Minister for 18 years.
The first National Assembly was established in December 1976 after the approval of the Socialist Constitution, which later elected the State Council's presidency. Castro has spent the last number of months in intense reflection, writing letters on past and present national and international affairs.
"[Common] sense indicated that such activity was within my reach. On the other hand, when referring to my health I was extremely careful to avoid raising expectations since I felt that an adverse ending would bring traumatic news to our people in the midst of the battle.
Thus, my first duty was to prepare our people both politically and psychologically for my absence after so many years of struggle," the ailing Castro wrote.
Villajera was also adamant that the change in leadership would not bring about any change in the political dispensation in the country, saying the leadership will remain more or less the same as before.
"We know our leaders and we know what we want," Villajera said.
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