Mr Castro, 89, told a party congress that he is handing over the leadership to a younger generation "full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit".
His successor will be voted in at the end of the four-day congress.
Although Mr Castro has not endorsed a successor, it is widely believed the party leadership will pass to Miguel Díaz-Canel, who took over as the island's president in 2018.
The forces Raul Castro helped lead overthrew a fascist government. Now, he gets to retire after the government he helped form greatly improved life for the average person in Cuba and is something that he can be proud of.
When you think about it, Castro is one of the few remaining of his kind. Certainly, there were various people and groups who got power, be it through revolution or electoralism, for the left throughout Latin and South America from the 1950s to the 1980s, before The Pink Tide. Unfortunately, most of them are now dead, either of old age or assassination.
The fact that Castro has lived this long and got to see his country prosper is impressive. About the only other person I can think of who is still alive from that group and time frame is Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.
well said, absolutely. I'm glad he hand picked from the sounds of it a much younger person he trusts to fill the job. That's what's up.
dude fought in the revolution, can't really get a better leader than the one who helped shape cuba's socialism. so badass
It seems likely he will be forced to take further steps to liberalise Cuba's centrally controlled economy. The island is currently in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the period immediately following the end of the Cold War... Any hope of improving ties with the US however may have to wait as the Biden administration has shown little inclination to unpick the Trump administration's harsher sanctions on Cuba at this stage....
And why has the country been in so many economic crises?
Fidel Castro led the revolution that toppled the Cuban government in 1959, when Raúl served as one of his commanders...
Why don't you mention what kind of "government" Castro toppled?
At the congress on Friday, Raúl Castro said his country was willing to "develop respectful dialogue" with the United States but it would not accept having to make "concessions" regarding its "foreign policy and ideals"....
Fuck yeah.
Many have been calling for much more economic freedom in the country....
Who?
