HAVANA — Cuba’s Communist Party stuck Tuesday with a slate of silver-haired icons of the revolution to spearhead a last-ditch effort to save the island’s sputtering economy — surprising those who took to heart declarations by Raul and Fidel Castro that it was time to give way to a new generation of leaders.
Delegates to a key Party Congress picked 79-year-old Raul Castro to replace his ailing brother at the helm, while weathered veterans moved up to the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Three somewhat younger politicians were named to lesser roles in the leadership council, but it remained dominated by men who came of age before television, let alone the Internet.
Fidel Castro made a surprise appearance, to thunderous applause from delegates, many of whom could be seen crying as he was helped to his place on stage by a young aide, then stood at attention during Cuba’s national anthem.
Wearing a blue track suit over a checked shirt, the 84-year-old revolutionary leader looked unsteady on his feet as he clutched the aide’s arm and, at times, slumped in his chair. He became more animated as the proceedings went on, especially when Raul’s name was read out by an official announcing members of the party’s Central Committee. Fidel was left off the leadership slate for the first time.
But Raul Castro said his brother needed no formal title to continue being the country’s guiding light.
“Fidel is Fidel,” he said.
Named party second secretary was Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, an 80-year-old stalwart who set up field hospitals for the Castros when they were young rebels fighting to topple Fulgencio Batista in the 1950s. The No. 3 spot went to Ramiro Valdes, a 78-year-old vice president who was with the brothers when they launched the revolution aboard the Granma yacht in 1956.
Ann Louise Bardach, a longtime Cuba expert and author of “Without Fidel” and “Cuba Confidential,” said the much anticipated leadership announcement fell flat, with Raul Castro, Machado Ventura and Valdes continuing to run things.
“What part of this is a shake-up? These are the three principal ‘historicos’ left in the country,” she said. “We’re not seeing new blood — this is the oldest blood Cuba has.”
A larger and less influential body, the Central Committee, was chock full of young women and Afro-Cubans, as well as grizzled armed-forces generals and members of the old guard.
Three relatively young people were elected to the leadership council, including Marino Murillo, a 50-year-old former economy minister who was recently put in charge of implementing sweeping economic reforms. The current economy minister, 65-year-old Adel Izquierdo, was also named to the council, as was Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea, 46, the Communist Party chief in Havana who became the 15-member council’s only woman.
Cubans reacted with a mix of support and resignation.
“It’s logical,” said Reina Rosa, a 43-year-old Havana resident. Raul “had to put a man there (as second secretary) that he trusts completely, and there’s none of those among the young people.”
“It’s the same thing with the same people,” said Maria Rubio. “These old guys don’t want to let go of power.”
The Congress also approved 300 economic proposals, though details were not released.
Apparently included in the measures was a recommendation to legalize the buying and selling of private property, which has been heavily restricted.
Also on the table was a proposal to eventually eliminate the monthly ration book, which provides Cubans with a basic basket of heavily subsidized food and other goods. Other measures envision providing seed capital for would-be entrepreneurs and eliminating the island’s unique dual-currency system.
