Díaz-Canel sworn in as unusual Cuban leader

Miguel Díaz-Canel has been sworn in as Cuba’s unusual president, replacing Raúl Castro who took over from his ill brother Fidel in 2006.

It’s miles the major time since the revolution in 1959 that a Castro is now not at the helm of the federal government.

Mr Díaz-Canel had been serving as first vice-president for the past five years.

Even supposing Mr Díaz-Canel was born after the revolution, he is a staunch ally of Raúl Castro and is now not expected to originate any radical adjustments.

There was « no room in Cuba for these that strive for the restoration of capitalism » he mentioned in his inaugural address.

‘The Revolution continues its direction’

He was elected by the members of the Nationwide Assembly, all 605 of whom were voted in in March after standing unopposed.

• Who is Miguel Díaz-Canel?
• Cuba after the Castros

Mr Castro is expected to proceed wielding substantial political influence in his characteristic as the leader of Cuba’s ruling Communist To find together.

‘Political continuity’: Will Grant, BBC Cuba correspondent

Cuba’s unusual President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, entered the chamber alongside the outgoing president, Raúl Castro.

The 2nd captured the image of political continuity the Cuban government has been alive to to stress: an ordered handover of energy from one generation to the next.

There was a diminutive surprise, a single dissenting vote to Díaz-Canel’s nomination as president, as he was confirmed by ethical 99.eighty three% of the vote.

Quiet, he had the one and reliable pollhe undoubtedly wished: Raúl Castro’s.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Díaz-Canel mentioned that his mandate was « to ensure the continuity of the Cuban revolution at a key historical 2nd » and assured the members of the Nationwide Assembly that « the revolution continues its direction ».

He mentioned that Cuba’s foreign policy would dwell « unaltered » and that any « well-known adjustments » will seemingly be determined by the Cuban of us.

A gargantuan phase of his speech was dedicated to praising his predecessor reasonably than job, to whom he mentioned: « Cuba wishes you. » This precipitated the more than 600 Nationwide Assembly members to upward thrust to their toes and offers the 86-twelve months-unprecedented unprecedented leader a standing ovation.

Any adjustments Mr Díaz-Canel will snarl in are seemingly to be slack, tiresome-paced and in accordance to the reforms Raúl Castro supplied since he first took over energy from his brother, Fidel.

Key reforms below Raúl Castro:

2008: Quiet agricultural technique is launched, promising to grant a million hectares of land to deepest farmers

2010: Loosening of rules governing industry activities, permitting Cubans to diagram up their procure diminutive deepest businesses

2011: Opening up of the housing market, permitting Cubans to steal and sell their homes

2013: First wi-fi zones created as phase of a push to originate the acquire more accessible for Cubans

2014: US-Cuban thaw announced resulting within the restoration of elephantine diplomatic relatives between the frequent foes

Supply: BBC Monitoring

The unusual leader must need into account the appropriate solution to overcome the concerns induced by the financial fall down of Cuba’s ally, Venezuela, and what more or much less relationship the Caribbean island wishes with the US below Donald Trump.

Closing twelve months, the unusual American president reimposed sure trail and commerce restrictions eased by the Obama administration nevertheless didn’t reverse key diplomatic and commercial ties.

• Four takeaways from Trump’s Cuba policy

But what most Cubans will judge the unusual leader on is whether their day-to-day lives red meat up.