Resigning Cuban President Fidel Castro urged the nation in his last published statement in his office Saturday to avoid making any major changes in Cuba’s political structure.
The front-page article published in the Granma Communist Party newspaper was the first by Castro under the 81-year-old leader’s new title, “Comrade Fidel” and his last as president after 49 years.
Despite hopes expressed by US President George W. Bush that Cuba would now move toward a democratic political structure, Castro said “the reality is otherwise.”
Castro’s 76-year-old brother Raul, currently Defense Minister, is expected to be elected Sunday by the parliament as the new president of the island nation. He has led the government for the past 19 months following his older brother’s emergency intestinal surgery.