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1 1 (February 29, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsajqg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22742 Updated February 29, 2008 Cuba's Political Succession: From Fidel to Rauil Castro Mark P. Sullivan Specialist in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Cuba's political succession from Fidel Castro to his brother Radl has been characterized by a remarkable degree of stability. On February 24, 2008, Cuba's legislature selected Rail as President of the 31-member Council of State, a position that officially made him Cuba's head of government and state. Most observers expected this since Rail already had been heading the Cuban government on a provisional basis since July 2006 when Fidel stepped down as President because of poor health. On February 19, 2008, Fidel had announced that he would not accept the position of President of the Council of State. Cuba's stable political succession from one communist leader to another raises questions about the future direction of U.S. policy, which currently can be described as a sanctions-based policy that ties the easing of sanctions to democratic change in Cuba. For developments in U.S. policy toward Cuba, see CRS Report RL33819, Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress; and CRS Report RL31139, Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances. For background and analysis in the aftermath of Fidel Castro's stepping down from power in July 2006, see CRS Report RL33622, Cuba's Future Political Scenarios and U.S. Policy Approaches. Cuban Developments Stable Succession. Fidel Castro ceded provisional control of the government and the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) to his brother Radl on July 31, 2006, because of poor health. While initially many observers forecast Radl's assumption of power as temporary, it soon became clear that a permanent succession of political power had occurred. Fidel's health improved in 2007, but his condition remained weak, and most observers believed that he would not resume his role as head of the Cuban government. That proved true when on February 19, 2008, Fidel announced that he would not accept the position of President of the Council of State when Cuba's legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power, was scheduled to meet on February 24, 2008, to select from among its ranks the members of the 31-member Council. Many observers expected Radl to be selected by the legislature to be the next President, a role that he held provisionally for the previous 19 months.

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