Fidel stepping down, not out, says ambassador

The announcement is not expected to have any effect on the already strong relations with Belize but today the world’s longest serving head of state, Cuban President Fidel Castro, declared that he will not seek re-election. Castro, who has served forty-nine years as president, made the statement just days before the post is to be decided at Sunday’s meeting of Cuba’s parliament. The decision was not unexpected as nineteen months ago Castro underwent stomach surgery and he has spent much of his recovery out of the public eye. But according to Cuban Ambassador to Belize, Eugenio Martinez, Fidel has made it clear he is stepping down, not out.

Eugenio Martinez, Cuban Ambassador to Belize
“Five days before, he is saying he doesn’t want the job anymore.”

Janelle Chanona
“His brother Raul is the most likely candidate no?”

Eugenio Martinez
“Well we’ll have to wait until Sunday. The thing is that National Assembly elects a council of state which is a body comprised of thirty one members, out of those thirty one members, five are vice presidents, one is the president and one is the first vice president. Currently Raul is the first Vice President but it’s up to the National Assembly, it’s a separate body, so we’ll know by Sunday.”

Janelle Chanona
“Regardless of what happens, the status quo more or less stays the same, there is not a marked transformation in the way business is conducted and the way Cuba conducts itself…”

Eugenio Martinez
“Yeah, we understand that the mass media is concerned because it’s always portrayed that the Cuban process is one man but it’s very … it’s based on principles, it has the majority support of the Cuban people, had a strong foundation, although his leadership is still loved and followed in Cuba, and as he said in his message, this is not his final will. He is going to be as he said, a solider in the battle of ideas. He recovered all his capacity to write, to think, full command of mind but he is not able to perform duties as the President of Cuba in his style which is very active, going to public situation, leading all Cuban processes so he’s going to rest but keep thinking and keep writing so we are going to hear a lot from Fidel. His ideas, his principles, his programs will be followed by Cubans, new leaders and old leaders that will follow his path.”

Fidel Castro took over as Cuba’s President in 1959, leading a movement that overthrew the pro-U.S. government of Fulgencio Batista.