By Michael Voss
BBC News, Havana
Cuban President Fidel Castro's statement that he does not intend to hold
on to power is the first time since he was taken ill in 2006 that he has
given any indication about his political future.
"My basic duty is not to cling to office, nor even more so to obstruct
the rise of people much younger," was his surprise message, read out on
state television.
His role was, he said, "to pass on experiences and ideas whose modest
value arises from the exceptional era in which I lived".
Although not a resignation letter, the statement does suggest that Mr
Castro may not resume office but instead continue in the role of elder
statesman advising the government on key issues.
Transition
It is almost 16 months since the 81-year-old leader had emergency
stomach surgery and handed temporary power to his brother, Raul.
At the time there was speculation about whether one-party rule could
survive in Cuba without the man who has been at the helm since leading
the revolution in 1959.
So far, though, it has proved to be a stable transition.
Acting President Raul Castro is not a charismatic leader like Fidel. His
reputation is of a more pragmatic and practical administrator.
While there has been little change so far, Raul has encouraged debate on
the country's main economic problems.
He has also offered to sit down at the negotiating table with the United
States and earlier this month the government announced that Cuba would
finally sign the two main United Nations human rights accords.
But there is no sign whatsoever of any change in political direction or
an opening up of the communist state.
Bombshell
Fidel Castro holds two key positions of power in Cuba: President of the
Council of State and First Secretary of the Communist Party, which many
believe is where the real power lies.
Earlier this month Fidel Castro was nominated as a candidate for next
year's National Assembly elections.
If elected he would then be officially eligible to resume the presidency.
Now there is speculation as to whether he will stand down and formally
pass the baton on to Raul or even one of the younger generation of
communists.
There are several senior figures within the party who could emerge as
potential candidates.
These include Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a vice president of the Council of
State with special responsibilities for the economy, and Foreign
Minister Felipe Perez Roque, who is just 42.
Cubans are still trying to asses the implications of Fidel Castro's
statement.
The headlines in the state-controlled press here are that he wrote a
letter about climate change, which is published in full.
The bombshell about his political intentions is almost an afterthought
at the very end.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7150258.stm
Published: 2007/12/18 18:21:54 GMT
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7150258.stm
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