Raul Castro proposes term limits in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

April 16, 2011
Raul Castro proposes term limits in Cuba

(AP) HAVANA (AP) — Raul Castro proposed term limits for Cuban politicians on Saturday, a remarkable gesture on an island ruled for 52 years by him and his brother, but one unlikely to have a major effect on his own future.

The 79-year-old president told delegates to a crucial Communist Party summit that Cuban politicians and other important officials should be restricted to two, five-year terms. Castro officially took over from his brother Fidel in 2008, meaning he'd be at least 86 when his second term as Cuban leader ended, depending on how the law is written.

The proposal was made at the latter stage of a long speech in which the Cuban leader forcefully backed a laundry list of economic changes which together represent a sea change for the country's socialist system, including the eventual elimination of the ration book and other subsidies, the decentralization of the economy and a new reliance on supply and demand in some sectors.

Still, he drew a line in the Caribbean sand across which the reforms must never go, telling party luminaries that he had rejected dozens of suggested reforms which would have allowed the concentration of property in private hands.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/16/ap/latinamerica/main20054638.shtml

[David__77]

1. Two 5-year terms is what the Chinese do.

I think Cuba is looking east for solutions to the ongoing transition. The days of the absolute jefetura as closing.

[Yupster]

28. One sixty year term

You don't want the same guy in there forever after all.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Castro proposes term limits to promote new generation of leaders

Castro proposes term limits to promote new generation of leaders
Apr 17, 2011, 4:16 GMT

Havana - Cuban President Raul Castro vowed to promote a 'systematic rejuvenation' of senior government positions, with term limits of 10 years in ministries and the party leadership.

The 79-year-old president's proposal came in a speech at the weekend congress of the island's Communist Party, which he said lacked 'a reserve of properly qualified substitutes.'

'It is recommended that the exercise of key political and state offices be limited to two consecutive periods of five years,' he told the first full party congress in 14 years, convened to debate the proposed modernization of Cuba's socialist economic model.

He said term limits 'are possible and necessary in the current circumstances, which are distinct from those of the first decades of the revolution that was under constant threat and aggression.'

More:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1633452.php/Castro-proposes-term-limits-to-promote-new-generation-of-leaders

[joshcryer]

3. Wow.

That's huge. Incomprehensible really, with so many people desiring unlimited term limits in Latin America.

[dipsydoodle]

4. BBC News link

He said the party leadership was in need of renewal and should subject itself to severe self-criticism.

The proposal is unprecedented under Cuban communism.

>

He acknowledged that "the confidence of the majority of Cubans had been tested, with regard to the party and the revolution".

Cubans, he said, would have to overcome a "mentality of inertia" and said the only thing that could threaten the revolution was "our inability to rectify errors".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13107318

The three amigos.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iymOKHSCp3Q/SHIszECUToI/AAAAAAAAAR0/TFRiG0-QeM8/s400/fidel+raul+che.jpg

[Judi Lynn]

5. Very interesting steps being taken, dipsydoodle.

It's important the scum they threw out of office, or their offspring never slither back into control in Cuba EVER again.

They need protection from those filthy murderous racist a-holes. It's a surprise Florida didn't try to throw them out, as well.

Thanks for adding the great photo, as well.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Yes - the Three Amigos

I remain amazed at the fact that Fidel, Raul , Ernesto and only 12 others kicked off the Revolution albeit a few days late following some disasters on the Granma getting to Cuba from Mexico.

Do you by any chance have a link to them requesting help from NATO ? :sarcasm:

[Judi Lynn]

7. There weren't that many left of the original crew, were there?

I doubt most U.S. Americans are aware they had women who fought against the US-supported monster Batista.

I had to go find this photo of the two brothers, and Vilma Espín, Raul's wife, standing by Fidel Castro, and the heroic fighter, Celia Sánchez. Also, found another photo of the three amigos, but it's not as clear as yours:

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org.nyud.net:8090/cuban-rebels/fidel-raul.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org.nyud.net:8090/cuban-rebels/fidel-raul-1.jpg

http://thepoliticalelite.com.nyud.net:8090/images/2010/12/vilma-espin.jpg

http://havanajournal.com.nyud.net:8090/images/uploads/celia-sanchez.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_CMHTXgik56U/S0u6kMvfyGI/AAAAAAAAATU/vlBNnmrBVoE/s320/celia.jpg

http://aprnonline.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/images-63.jpg http://actu.orangecaraibe.com.nyud.net:8090/images1/zoom/10062953_1.jpg

[dipsydoodle]

8. Some details here

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofcuba/p/09granma.htm

I had obviously misinterpreted something. The reduced number of less than 20 where those who reached the Sierra Madra the others having been killed or captured a few days earlier.

Great pictures you posted. Thanks.

[BOG PERSON]

16. damn

great photos

[joshcryer]

17. If Batista was anywhere near as brutal as Gaddafi...

...Castro would've been killed.

[Judi Lynn]

18. You should spend some time reading up on Batista, for chrissakes.

What the hell do you suppose brought on the revolution? Boredom?

Lower yourself and spend some time thinking things through before making statements like that.

[joshcryer]

20. I know all about Batista, I know just as much about Gaddafi, I can make that judgement.

Now, I am not sure others here can, with their epic false equivalence's, but yeah.

Batista spared Castro, and then in the height of the Cuban Revolution, his armies spared Castro. That's two strikes.

Let me know when Gaddafi spares one fucking rebel.

[Judi Lynn]

23. I'll encourage other DU'ers to ponder whether Batista was brutal.

Whether he was as brutal as Gadaffi is inmaterial. Absurd, actually.

This thread cocerns Cuba directly. Don't waste everyone's time attempting to point at other people, in other times, using different weapons, having different capabilities. Wildly goofy.

Batista "spared Castro"? He had no right to have harmed him. He would have had a rebellion on his hands much earlier, had he harmed him. He had already tortured and murdered many of his collegues.

His armies spared Castro? Oh, please. His soldiers often JOINED the revolution.

How doe Gaddafi fit into this, anyway? Why not include Islam Karimov, Bush's deadly little dictator friend? He boils his political enemies. Why not bring up everyone who ever lived? Where do you draw the line?

[joshcryer]

25. Castro's actions were *just as the Libyans actions are*, to liberate themselves.

You'll note that I was responding to someone else making a Libya comparison.

And yes, Castro called a cease fire and Batista's army spared him due to their own fear and uncertainty. Read the history of "Las Mercedes." It was a fatal blow to Castro's revolution. But who here would have cheered their defeat as people appear to revel in the defeat of the Libyan revolutionaries? There has not been one instance in Libya where the Gaddafi forces spared the rebels in negotiations, not one.

I didn't make the OT comparison, someone else did, don't fault me for calling out the BS.

[dipsydoodle]

26. Batista ordered his death immediately after the failed attack on the Moncada Barracks

Castro had not been rounded up with many others who were shot and their bodies laid out strategically in the Barracks dressed in new army uniforms to emphasize the fray within the Barracks. Batista's mugs did however forget to put bullet holes in the new uniforms.

Batista had given the order for Castro to be brought back dead but the army lieutenant who found him brought him back alive. Batista's next tack was to have Castro declared insane - that failed too.

Following his own "failed" defense Castro was subsequently released 20 months or so into a long sentence under a general amnesty. For defense see here : History Will Absolve Me http://www.marxists.org/history/cuba/archive/castro/1953/10/16.htm

When the Revolution was over the army lieutenant mentioned above was given a senior government position out of gratitude.

[joshcryer]

27. And? Doesn't change a damn thing I said.

[disndat]

9. Cuba is a rare example of a

successful revolution against overwhelming odds and U.S. corporate interests tried to demonize Castro.

[UTUSN]

10. "unlikely to have a major effect on his own future"-nothing ever applies to the C-boys & Huguito nt

[Name removed]

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[bitchkitty]

12. LMAO, that was quick! n/t

[Name removed]

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[Forkboy]

24. Didn't realize you were so sensitive.

But thanks for proving the point. :crazy:

[Judi Lynn]

14. Fidel Castro praises brother amid historic changes

Fidel Castro praises brother amid historic changes
By Shasta Darlington,
4:14 p.m. EDT

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Fidel Castro, Cuba's historic leader, gave his successor and younger brother Raul a vote of confidence on Sunday with praise for a speech promoting a radical overhaul of the economy and term limits for political offices.

When President Raul Castro inaugurated a key summit of the Communist Party on Saturday, he took many by surprise when he declared leaders should be limited to two five-year terms in office, a surprising move in a country where one family has ruled for the last 52 years.

~snip~
He also praised the military parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Cuba's victory against a U.S.-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs. The parade Saturday kicked off the Communist Party summit.

"It was all worth it to have lived to see the show today, and it is always worth remembering those who died to make this possible," he wrote.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/04/17/cuba.castro/index.html?hpt=T2

[dipsydoodle]

15. Will be interesting

to read Fidel's next Reflection/Essay on the subject probably later this week.

[Judi Lynn]

19. True. I had forgotten he'll likely discuss it on the internetS. n/t

[RedCloud]

29. In what manifesto does it say Nepotism?