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Adalberto Roque / AFP - Getty Images
Cuban President Raul Castro visits a mausoleum Friday dedicated to Soviet solders who died around the world. Outside the frame is visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Castro surprised those on hand when he mentioned retirement and urged reporters to pay close attention to a speech scheduled for Sunday.
HAVANA -- Cuban President Raul Castro has unexpectedly raised the possibility of leaving his post, saying Friday that he is old and has a right to retire. But he did not say when he might do so or if such a move was imminent.
The Cuban leader is scheduled to be sworn in to a new five-year term on Sunday. Castro urged reporters to listen to his speech that day.
"I am going to be 82 years old," Castro said at a joint appearance with visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. "I have the right to retire, don't you think?"
When reporters continued to shout questions about his plans for the next five years, Castro replied: "Why are you so incredulous?"
Javier Galeano / AP
Between them, former president Fidel Castro and brother Raul have ruled Cuba since the 1959 overthrow of U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista. One of the conditions the U.S. has stated for ending a decades-old embargo against its old Cold War enemy is that neither brother be in power.
He said to listen carefully on Sunday.
"It will be an interesting speech," he said. "Pay attention."
Castro's tone was light and his comments came in informal remarks at a mausoleum dedicated to soldiers from the former Soviet Union who have died around the world.
The Cuban leader has spoken before of his desire to implement a two-term limit for all Cuban government positions, including the presidency. He has also alluded to the limited time he has left to overhaul the island's weak Marxist economy.
That has led many to speculate that this upcoming term would be his last, though term limits have never been codified into Cuban law.
Most Havana residents had not heard about Castro's comments, which had not been reported on Cuban television. Many reacted with skepticism.
"Who would they put in?" asked Marta Alvarez, a 45-year-old housewife walking through Old Havana. "But I don't think it would be now. It would happen in five years."
Castro will be 86 when his next term ends in 2018. Up until now, all eyes had been on who would emerge as Castro's first and second vice presidents during Sunday's proceedings. The positions are currently occupied by two loyal octogenarians who fought in the 1959 revolution.
Putting someone younger in one of those roles would be the first sign that Castro was settling on a potential next-generation successor, something he and his brother Fidel have never done, even as many comrades have succumbed to old age.
As far back as December 2010, Castro began to reflect on his responsibility, and that of his aging generation, to right Cuba's economy, noting that the actuarial tables leave them few remaining years.
"The time we have left is short, the task is enormous," he told lawmakers in his year-end speech that year. "I think we have an obligation ... to set (the country) on the right course."
When Raul Castro does leave the political stage, it would end more than a half century of unbroken rule by the two brothers, who came to power in 1959 at the head of a revolution against U.S.-backed strongman Fulgencio Batista.
Relations with the United States have been sour since shortly after the revolution. One of the key provisions of the 51-year U.S. economic embargo on Cuba stipulates that it cannot be lifted while either of the Castros is in power.
Castro has implemented a series of economic and social reforms since taking over from his ailing brother in 2006, but the island is still ruled by one party. Fidel Castro is 86 and retired, and has seemed increasingly frail in recent appearances.
Related:
Fidel Castro makes first extended public appearance since 2010
Cuba's jailing of American contractor 'arbitrary,' UN panel concludes
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Can anyone tell me the reason why Cuba is still on the terror list while we have normalized relations with Russia? Sure they used to be state spon of rebel groups in Central America, but that was a while ago. I see no good reason why we shold drop them from that list and let it be. Heck, it would good for them and would be pretty good for us if we play it right.
simple - do you have ANY idea of the political influence of the CUBANS in Florida?
It's still a Communist country and less than 100 miles from our shore. God help us if there's a repeat of the Cuban Missile Crisis, only this time w/ N. Korea.
Yes, the tried to Nationalize some American properties and businesses, within our borders, back in 1962 to be Cubas. Than there's the HelmBurten act of 1996. Cuba is not being a humanatarian government to its citizens. They are keeping political prisoners that we would like to see freed. The list goes on. We do however allow Humanatarian needs to flow, food, farm equipment, stuff for survival, etc. That help for starters?
GK: The Cubans are as communists as the Chinese are, yet we don't say a word about the Chinese...
6dogs: The same to you, the Chinese are not humanitarian with their people, they take political prisoners, and the list goes on. But...
Double standard, the natural coin of today... if it's profitable for us, we can look the other way.
We imposed a stupid embargo for more than 50 years. We had Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama, and... did it work? Yeah, for the rest of the world, who continued to do business as usual with the regime. In the meantime, the Americans were the only ones who didn't make a dime...
Was it not Eisenhower that pushed Castro to Communism? Not to say he would not have become a dictator anyway but Eisenhower's opposition to Castro forced him to seek aid from whomever would give it so Nikita Khrushchev was only too happy to oblige since he wanted nuclear missiles at our door step. Eisenhower thought he could support an invasion aka known as the "bay of pigs" that would place a puppet in the Cuban government. Well I guess he thought that since it worked in Iran ... why not Cuba?
There seems to be repeated posts about Cuba is bad because theuy have political prisoners. How about the people we have imprisioned at our Naval base on Cuban soil? What do you call these people.
Wait... Doesn't Fidel have to retire first? ;-)
I think Castro is planning to team up with Pope Benedict.
They'll go on a road trip to complete their bucket lists!
The only way you can get a Castro to retire is to drive a stake through his heart, shoot him with silver bullets, put a garlic necklace on him and drown him in holy water.
After half a century, Cuba deserves new leadership.
Hey Dumb Dumb, Oh , pardon me, ChrisMvK; The article is about Raul Castro not his brother Fidel. Either learn to read or get a life.
I said "a" Castro. As in, they are brothers and have ruled Cuba basically as a duumvurate. And if you don't know what that means, look it up.
Only reason U.S. isn't resuming relations with Cuba, is that the rich Cuban emigrating from the Revolution want their stuff back. Uh well uh, rich Vietnamese and Chinese affected by the Communist takeover by the North Vietnamese simply accommodated. They initially didn't get their stuff back but their business prowess enabled them and Viet Nam to start on the road of economic success. So I say to you Cuban Republicans in Miami, accommodate the government in Cuba. Let the U.S. normalize relations. Let us trade with the Cubans. You Cuban Republicans may not get the stuff back that you left when you fled, but you should do well with the new business opportunities opening up with the reapproachment.
Huh? I can assure you that MANY Vietnamese (and Chinese) have not "simply accommodated" to the International Socialists Occupations Forces illegally occupying Ha Noi (and Beijing). Even in Sai Gon today, unless it is for "official" business or kowtowing the Communists Despots, we call the city Sai Gon not HMC City.
Nhan Quyen Cho Viet Nam! Human Rights for Vietnam!
either, you are to young or to fool to understand tha most cubans that came over were not rich.
besides who want to go back and claim a house or a factory that was destroyed by the gov. or the people 50 years ago they were worth somthing now I don't think is worth the trip back.
All the rich cubans are very rich in here and they won't go back even if their properties were return to them Why? becvause they are all dead or to old and their sibblings will never trade their possition here for a pile of rubbish
The Cubans who fled early adapted and moved to NYC and across the U.S. The Miami Cubans are Castro's discards from the Mariel boatlift, those who floated across on makeshift floats and dissidents who sought refuge. Most of them aren't monied; just red-hot pis*ed off at Castro.
GK: A huge chunk of the Cubans in Miami came on the first wave of immigrants, not with the Mariel move. And even with the Marielitos, there are a lot of them who are law abiding citizens. Please avoid stereotyping about a group of people.
The two Castros and Chavez need to hold hands in a circle while a grenade is lobbed in the center. Worthless socialists and POS, Cuba is living in the 1950's still..........
Why not Marco Rubio
Ah, Cuba, Castro...The u.s.a's biggest embarrassment. We put him in power indirectly, and have not been able to reverse it in 60 years. At least Raul is somewhat better than Fidel. But, he is not going to retire. If he does i will be very very shocked.
This may be a new opportunity for us to give our money to yet another country.
End this embargo Mr. Obama I dare you!
We do business with China yet we treat Cuba as the source of all evil, why?
The walls down,China and Russia have set up nice places in Cuba,Canada goes there all the time but not the US!
This is silly we have a Pinko president and a bunch of commies in Congress so why is Cuba blacklisted???
I believe that the term "Joey" applies to a newborn kangaroo that is completely blind and can't do crap and must live deep inside the kangaroo mother's pouch. I think that accurately describes you.
Gee, besides being "confused", it seems that you are also embarassingly rude. But, since you are apparently an Obama-Lemming, we understand your predicament. Whe someone criticizes your phony, inept messiah, you have no substance with which to defend his ineptitude, so you resort to the characteristic lib namecalling. Old hat!
A noted sociologist once stated that if you took all the wealth on earth and divided it evenly between all the inhabitants, within two years, the ones that are wealthy now, would be wealthy and the ones that are poor now would be poor then.
From what I've seen in my long life, this is true, so why go to the bother?
I Wonder too. I wonder why China and India and Brazil, just to name the obvious, are still dirt poor and why the United Kingdom is still the most dominant empire on earth? I think the answer is because your comment has no basis in reality.
Castro will retire to get billions from the US and then we can have more Illegals from Cuba, while US seniors go hungry and without Meds!
Who are these seniors?
Look at my icon. I have lately turned 74. Do I look malnourished or ill? If so, it's news to me.
All those that lost their retirement and insurance benefits thanks to Bush and the banking industry that destroyed the Economy!There Are manny Senior's that get around $1000.00 in SS ,those are the ones hurting!
The liberals are the only ones hurting me. First they make me take money out of my ira, then tax it, so that I won't be able to save a nickel, then raise minimum wage until my cost of living sky rockets.
My Turn Wi: They are not illegals. There is a law in place since 1964 which protects them the moment they hit us soil. The sad part is that despite that fact we have ignorants like you who call them illegals...
Justice:::: The ignorance is from people like you who support illegal! Legal immigrants have to be disease free and be current on immunisations plus no criminal back ground. How many of those Cubans fit that description [o].TB and other diseases were eliminated in the US and now they are back,Why???? Get the head out of the sand box and see what is realy happening!
I heard he the Castro Brothers, sold the island to Kim Jong Un.
Its going to be called The Peoples Republic of North Cubrea.
Wouldn't it be nice to go to Havana, drop off your dry cleaning, and pick up a good cigar? in one stop..
Make sure to grab a mojito at Floridita (Hemingway's old haunt) while you're there.
Once the Castro's are out of power in Cuba the US will most likely again "dabble" in the internal politics of a country and turn it into a human rights disaster!
We seem to be good at doing that.
Hist, Cuba is a "human rights disaster" due to Castro ... just asked litterally the millions of political prisoners in the last 54 years.
http://www.therealcuba.com/
End this embargo Mr. Obama!
Why do gopcon are biggest supporters of Communist China?
It may be time for the Castro regime to retire, but it is WAY past time for the U.S. to get over it's embarassment from 1959, and normalize relations with Cuba. End the embargo now. It's just silly. Absolutely stupid. Come on, Obama, do the right thing and just end this embargo and reach out to Cuba. We just might be surprised how advantageous friendship could be......
CDuba has it right two term limits for any government positions. This is what the U.S. Gov. should be doing but with alternating years. Half one time then the other. This would cut out a lot of bullcrap and keep them more honest amoung other thing.
Shall we push it?
Hate to see The Castro's Retire
They should be in power for the next 100 years
So they can continued to say Patria o Muerte, Abajo el Imperialismo and then come over and live here so the empire give them welfare, disability and Obamacare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are they going to do if Castro leave and Obama start relations with Cuba?
They should both live out their remaining years in a hard labor camp, and water boarded each day, as a tribute to Marxist.
I would like to know why people, politicians, media etc refer to Raul as the president of Cuba, as well as they did with Fidel as neither one has been appointed by the citizens of Cuba, there are no presidential elections in Cuba. These two individuals are Dictators in a communist country, they have appointed themselves into the position and in the process they still have the people oppressed while they are ejoying the good life and each day becoming richer. While the Cuban citizens are surviving and are not even allowed to enter into one of the beautiful hotels in La Habana, they can't swim in the beaches the only way they can get things if they have american dollars, to purchase the merchandise in the black market. Besides I have never read in any history book, that a communist country as Cuba still is to have a president, rather than a dictator or did I miss something????
Maritza Castro,You didn't miss anything.Your comments show that you are educated on Cuba and it's regime of dictators,the Castro brothers.
P.S. I hate my last name.......not related to any of them. Otherwise, I would be having a good life with a very big nice bank account.....
Maritza,I knew a Bob Castro at Pacific Bell who was the nicest man you'd ever want to meet.He was not Cuban.Don't be ashamed of your name.It's nobody's business whether or not you are related to these dictators.Your first name is beautiful.Be glad that your parents didn't name you Gertrude.
I think CHE Gevarra's grandson is going to take over. Fidel got rid of the Mafia and corruption so we punished them for it. Look at all the gangsters and corruption in America that control our cities. Maybe his brother should come over here and help out.
The U.S. government is the most corrupt government in the entire world. Nothing but a double standard. The U.S. is still mad that Castro stood his ground and did not let the U.S. continue to rob them like Batista did. To the U.S. government he was a spic and they dare that he stand up to white america. That is why they have tried for over 50 years to cripple the entire country. Cuba does not and have not posed a threat to the U.S. in at least the last 30 years. Fidel just wasn't going to allow the U.S. to rob the land. The U.S. recently supported rebels to overthrow Assad in Syria and have had a hand in many of the conflicts around the world. Hypocrites!
smitty,I know Cubans who have escaped Cuba and were in the Castro regime work camps.I met a man in the 1970's who grew up next door to Castro.They used to play together.Yet,he was put into a work camp prison just the same.He looked 20 years older than his age.The Cuban people have suffered due to Castro's attempt at redistributing the wealth.You have no clue as to what the Cuban people have gone through under these dictators,the Castro brothers.
I know people that say the complete opposite. Do you remember how Batista was allowing the U.S. rob them with nothing in return.
The US Government needs to take care of it's own people first instead of telling other Countries how to do run their politics!
There's a tiny nugget of truth in what you're saying, smitty: Batista was a horrible, murderous dictator. The problem is that the Castros are just as bad, just in slightly different ways.
It's like saying "I'd rather be shot in my left foot, than my right foot."
I for one would love to see the day that the Cuban people will be able to freely elect their president.The Castro's have done a great disservice to their people and have committed human rights violations.I wish no ill on anybody but it would be a blessing if both Castro brothers stopped breathing on the same day.l
sounds like hes related to the Pope...Hes too pooped to Pope..lol
This message if intended to MYTurnWi, first of all you should read a little bit of history Cubans are not Illegal citizens, when we enter this country we come in as Political refugees, due to the broken promise the Americans made to the Cubans back in 1959 during the Kennedy years, and then they turned their back on the Cubans and because of this many innocent lives, where lost and many Cuban individuals became political prisoners, and there are still many that have not yet been released and live under horrible conditions. All of these because United States broke their promise, and made a conspiracy to kill Castro, but then went back on their word because they were afraid and cause a war with Russia who had interest in Cuba. Then President tried to fix the problem by cleaning his hands, and doing the freedom flights allowing the Cubans who had families here, and were not going to become a burden to the tax payers, or anyone else to enter the country as Cuban refugees due to political situation in Cuba. I assure you that if Cuba would have not become a Communist country a good 75% percent of the Cubans would not be here there was no reason for any of us to leave, just running away from the Castro regime. Also the Cubans that have come to this country a good percentage of them are not a burden to these country, they have family members, and many become become professionals and give back to the American economy, even though they don't speak the language. If you also do some research the Cubans that have come to this country are grateful for the opportunity of being here, and we consider this our home just like everyone else as we are from Immigrant descent, according to history the only true Americans were the Native Indians, and now they live in reservation camps. But besides the point if you go back in history there has been many Cubans that are now in days in very important positions, have made contributions to these country. We have never been a burden to these country..so please get your facts correct..We are not illegals......
Glad you made it hear. Sorry that a few Americans broke promises, they are probably all dead by now.
I was not referring to the past,it was pertaining to the future! But since you brought it up Wi. took many of the Cubans when Castro opened the flood gates,many were big problems living in a free country! Al you have to do is look at the news articles and arrest records at the time.