MEXICO CITY — The second half-century of the Cuban Revolution will begin like the first — with a Castro in charge.
But after Cuba toasts that 50th anniversary today, President Raul Castro faces difficult choices on whether to alter that revolutionary vision, choices that will be watched throughout the Americas — especially in Washington.
Fidel Castro’s younger brother has expressed optimism that President-elect Barack Obama might thaw relations and even loosen the U.S. trade embargo. Obama already has called for lifting restrictions on money sent by Cuban-Americans to relatives on the island.
The domestic outlook isn’t as hopeful for Castro since he took over as president in February from Fidel Castro, who hasn’t been seen in public since 2006 while he battles an unconfirmed illness.
Cuba faces food shortages caused by three hurricanes this year that slashed farm production by a third. Its economy is on the ropes because of a global financial meltdown and Venezuela’s uncertain future as benefactor.
Analysts say the crisis could cause the 77-year-old Castro to tighten his authoritarian grip or force modest reforms, such as expanding private food production.
Speaking in the run-up to today’s festivities, Castro evoked the revolution’s glories in a pep talk on current challenges, which he called “particularly intense and complex.”
“We Cuban revolutionaries can look toward the past with our heads held high and toward the future with the same confidence in our strength and capacity to resist,” he said.
Upon taking office, Castro made some concessions, such as letting Cubans buy cellphones. He let them stay in hotels geared to foreigners, putting an end to the “tourism apartheid” that many locals despised.
But analysts say this year’s hurricanes threw other modest reforms off track, including experiments to let farmers sell excess production in private markets.
