VivirLatino

Castro gives up power to his brother

07:16 H | Topics: Controversia - Cuba - Politics

A couple of weeks ago the internet and Wall Street were reeling about a rumor that Cuban leader Fidel Castro had died. Last night a (semi) anonymous tipster called our attention to some of the most jarring news we've heard in a while; news that takes the breath out of all of those in the U.S. government who have been wringing their hands about what a post-Castro Cuba would like. Now we know: a post-Castro Cuba looks like it's going to still be Castro's Cuba:

Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night and told Cubans in a statement that he had undergone surgery.

The Cuban leader said he had suffered intestinal bleeding, apparently due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to the letter read live on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga.

But, Castro is not dead yet, and depending on who you ask this passing off of power is temporary or the prelude to the drama that will be Castro's last days.

That last thought seems to be the one that has dominated the minds of Miami Cubans, who according to anti-Castro Babalu Blog, broke out into spontaneous celebrations in the city's Little Havana. Babalu followed the local coverage of the aftermath of this announcement blow-by-blow. My immediate question to the revellers is: if power is being passed off to another Castro, what is all the celebration about? Isn't this just more of the same?

Related: Videos of the street celebrations (CBS 4 Miami)

Via / National Post and Babalu Blog

Related

• Andy Garcia: Ambivalent about Change in Cuba (Thursday, Feb 21 2008)
• Video Shows Cuban Youth Discontent or Freedom of Speech? (Monday, Feb 18 2008)