Raul Castro Confirmed as Cuba's New President

Raul Castro Confirmed as Cuba's New President

www.russiatoday.ru

Cuba's National Assembly has confirmed Raul Castro’s appointment to succeed his brother Fidel as the nation's President. Fidel Castro ceded power to his 76 year-old brother in 2006, after he underwent surgery and could no longer lead the island.

Raul Castro has raised expectations of reform, stating last year that the country required "structural changes" and acknowledged that wages were too low to satisfy basic needs.

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The younger brother of Fidel takes the helm according to Russia Today. Awaiting U.S. reaction although this will come as no surprise for many.

Peace.

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Vice-President Choice Shocks Some

Vice-president

The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says that although Raul Castro's selection was not a surprise, the shock came in his choice of vice-president.

It has been expected that he would name one of Cuba's younger generation of leaders as his number two, but he has opted for Machado Ventura.

Mr Ventura is a 78-year-old hardline Politburo member, our correspondent says, and one of the original leaders of Cuba's communist revolution.