Raul Castro confirms decision to step down next year; Cuba to get new president in April 2018
Cuban president Raul Castro on Thursday affirmed that he will leave office in April 2018, when the country's new national legislature convenes to elect a leader for the next five years
Havana: Cuban president Raul Castro on Thursday affirmed that he will leave office in April 2018, when the country's new national legislature convenes to elect a leader for the next five years.
File image of Raul Casto. Reuters
"When the National Assembly convenes, I will conclude my second and last mandate as leader of the state and government, and Cuba will have a new president," Xinhua quoted Castro as saying.
The Cuban Parliament approved on Thursday a decision to extend Castro's mandate for two more months until April 2018, citing the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Irma to the country in September.
Related Articles
Raul Castro, who took over power from his brother Fidel Castro in 2008 and was re-elected to a second term in 2013, has overseen the modernisation of Cuba's socialist system and spearheaded a series of reforms.
also read
China to build spy base in Cuba, claims report; US and Cuba call it inaccurate, unfounded
After a report suggested that Cuba has agreed to allow China to construct a surveillance facility on the island, the US on Thursday dismissed the report saying "it's not accurate" while Cuba termed it "totally mendacious and unfounded"
Dollar Detox: ‘Time to ditch the dollar,’ says Cuban President
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has asked developing countries to dump the US dollar as it would set them free from Washington's 'sanctions, blackmail, aggression, and slander'