Fidel Castro nominated in possible return to presidency

SANTIAGO DE CUBA – Fidel Castro was nominated yesterday as a National Assembly candidate, signalling that the ailing Cuban leader was not yet ready to give up politics and could even return to the presidency.

The 81-year-old communist leader, not been seen in public since he temporarily stepped down in July 2006 following surgery, was included on a list of candidates for national elections on January 20 in Santiago de Cuba, where he has traditionally been nominated for office. To applause and cheers of “Viva Fidel, viva the commander in chief!”, municipal officials in Santiago de Cuba unanimously approved Castro’s nomination on a list of 25 candidates for the National Assembly.Castro must hold a seat in the National Assembly to officially resume the presidency.The nomination was a response to the “immense affection, respect, consideration and recognition that our people have (for him),” said Vice President Carlos Lage.Castro has led Cuba for almost five decades but ‘provisionally’ handed over power to his younger brother and longtime number two Raul, 76, after undergoing intestinal surgery 16 months ago.Since then Cuban officials have said he keeps up with official business, and he has been writing opinion pieces on national and global affairs in the local media.But there had been until now no official indication of whether or when he would resume the presidency.Opposition figures expressed frustration at the nomination, saying that if he were reelected president, Cuba would not progress.”It will keep the country …in stagnation,” said dissident leader Marta Beatriz Roque.”Castro is a brake” on reforms, added opposition economist Oscar Espinosa.”This is going to make many things worse,” he said.From the ranks of the nominees for the national and provincial assemblies, 614 lawmakers will be elected in January and they will choose the Council of State.Since Castro handed power over to his brother, speculation has been rife as to whether the he would formally return to power or even remain politically active.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.Voting for the presidency is set to be held no later than March 5, 2008.Fidel, who rose to power in Cuba leading the 1959 revolution, continues to convalesce at an undisclosed location.Nampa-AFPTo applause and cheers of “Viva Fidel, viva the commander in chief!”, municipal officials in Santiago de Cuba unanimously approved Castro’s nomination on a list of 25 candidates for the National Assembly.Castro must hold a seat in the National Assembly to officially resume the presidency.The nomination was a response to the “immense affection, respect, consideration and recognition that our people have (for him),” said Vice President Carlos Lage.Castro has led Cuba for almost five decades but ‘provisionally’ handed over power to his younger brother and longtime number two Raul, 76, after undergoing intestinal surgery 16 months ago.Since then Cuban officials have said he keeps up with official business, and he has been writing opinion pieces on national and global affairs in the local media.But there had been until now no official indication of whether or when he would resume the presidency.Opposition figures expressed frustration at the nomination, saying that if he were reelected president, Cuba would not progress.”It will keep the country …in stagnation,” said dissident leader Marta Beatriz Roque.”Castro is a brake” on reforms, added opposition economist Oscar Espinosa.”This is going to make many things worse,” he said.From the ranks of the nominees for the national and provincial assemblies, 614 lawmakers will be elected in January and they will choose the Council of State.Since Castro handed power over to his brother, speculation has been rife as to whether the he would formally return to power or even remain politically active.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.Voting for the presidency is set to be held no later than March 5, 2008.Fidel, who rose to power in Cuba leading the 1959 revolution, continues to convalesce at an undisclosed location.Nampa-AFP