Castro could lose presidency

HAVANA – Cuban regional officials were to meet yesterday to pick National Assembly candidates in a gathering that could indicate the return to power of ailing president Fidel Castro or his permanent retirement.

The 81-year-old communist leader should have been nominated in yesterday’s meeting of recently elected municipal representatives if he wants to remain president. It is from the ranks of the nominees for the national and provincial assemblies that 614 lawmakers elected in January choose the Council of State.The council’s president serves as head of Cuba’s 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.And residents are determined to do so again.”It is certain that we will nominate Castro again and will elect him on January 20,” said 64-year-old resident Ramon Gutierrez.”He is our historic leader.”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 an assembly deputy, but then choose not to run for re-election to the Council of State.If he is not nominated Sunday, 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.The country’s municipal representatives are set to begin their nominating session at 15h00 GMT and in Santiago de Cuba, officials will put forward 25 names for the National Assembly – possibly including Castro.On Saturday, the government released 13 opposition activists detained the day before for taking part in vigil in front of a police station demanding freedom for one of their comrades arrested earlier.Cuban officials insisted last year Castro would resume his full powers, but now generally steer clear of the issue.Nampa-AFPIt is from the ranks of the nominees for the national and provincial assemblies that 614 lawmakers elected in January choose the Council of State.The council’s president serves as head of Cuba’s 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.And residents are determined to do so again.”It is certain that we will nominate Castro again and will elect him on January 20,” said 64-year-old resident Ramon Gutierrez.”He is our historic leader.”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 an assembly deputy, but then choose not to run for re-election to the Council of State.If he is not nominated Sunday, 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.The country’s municipal representatives are set to begin their nominating session at 15h00 GMT and in Santiago de Cuba, officials will put forward 25 names for the National Assembly – possibly including Castro.On Saturday, the government released 13 opposition activists detained the day before for taking part in vigil in front of a police station demanding freedom for one of their comrades arrested earlier.Cuban officials insisted last year Castro would resume his full powers, but now generally steer clear of the issue.Nampa-AFP