As expected, Díaz-Canel named Cuba’s new president
It’s a tall order. An almost impossible task. History has made it difficult for the new Cuban president of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, an electronic engineer who will turn 58 on April 20, to reach the heights expected of him.
Among other powers conferred to him by the Constitution is head of the National Defense Council, which now will be led by a civilian who holds the rank of Lieutenant. Díaz-Canel fulfilled his social services to the country as member of the missile corps, and served an international mission in Nicaragua.
The president of the National Candidacy Committee, Gisela Duarte Vázquez, upon finishing the reading of the proposed candidacies — which contained only one candidate for each seat — “urged” the legislative body to once again prioritize the sense of “unity” and therefore ratify the nominations.
Before her comments, Ms. Duarte Vázquez had announced the candidates seeking to occupy the positions of President, Vice President and Secretary of the National Assembly of the Popular Power (ANPP). The nominees selected were Esteban Lazo Hernández, Ana Mari Machado and Miriam Brito, respectively, all three who held the same positions in the previous parliament. Their posts were then extended for another five years. And there were no new additions at the top of the legislative body.
The official results of the vote to form the Cuban Council of State will be announced during the April 19 session, according to official media reports.
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Looking back now, and considering a shadow hard to match, were the times when the people at a certain juncture in this process would wait for Fidel’s words. El Comandante would then summon the citizenry to Revolution Plaza where the attendance was massive. Those who were not able to make it, at the very least sat listening to him in front of the television.
But then along come Raúl, who was less given to these massive concentrations, and even less to the speeches. During this period no one in Cuba would ask: “What will Raúl say?”
Times have changed and demands a very different dynamic in that binomial that ties a leader to the people. Díaz-Canel and his team will have to adopt new forms and contents, more modern so as not to lose that essential relationship of contact with people and their daily problems.
On the other hand, the new leader inherits numerous problems that need solving. All this, on top of an unfavorable international situation and an increasingly frosty and strained relationship with the northern neighbor.
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The parliamentary unanimity in favor of Díaz-Canel did not surprise anyone inside or outside the Island. What did cause surprise is that he hold both positions, before the State and the Council of Ministers. Many thought, or assumed, that those duties would be separated.
The new Parliament, with almost half of its members new, must play a leading role in the current scenario. Many will be watching Cuba before this new situation.
Meanwhile, we’ll wait to hear what Miguel Díaz-Cannel Bermúdez has to tell us as the new head of state, and how he’s going to tackle the many problems. Because there is no doubt that the moment demands action.
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MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL CURRICULUM
Legislator for Santa Clara.
Date of Birth: April 20, 1960
First Vice President of the Council of State and of Ministers.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba.
Electronic Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Management.
He was First Secretary of the Union of Communist Youth (UJC) in Villa Clara and Second Secretary of the National Committee of the organization itself. He served as First Secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party (PCC) in the provinces of Villa Clara and Holguín. Appointed Minister of Higher Education in 2009 and in 2012 Vice President of the Council of Ministers. Vanguard of the Anti-Air Defense and Revolutionary Air Force (DAAFAR).
Top photo screen-captured. Most other photos by Irene Pérez/Cubadebate.
