The forecasts were right. Cuban First Vice President Miguel Díaz-Canel was officially nominated to the presidency of the Council of State and of Ministers of Cuba, which confirms him as Raúl Castro’s successor. The Assembly already approved the nomination and is voting in secret now, although a different result is not expected.
As first vice president, Salvador Valdés Mesa, almost 73 years old, was nominated as Díaz-Canel’s substitute. Until now he was one of the vice presidents of the Council of State and his nomination has been a surprise since his name did not appear among the favorites of the analysts to hold this post.
If ratified, it will be the first time that Cuba has a black first vice president, and Valdés Mesa will be the man of that race that will have reached a post of the highest political rank in the country.
Valdés Mesa, 72, is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). Previously he was the General Secretary of the Central Organization of Cuban Trade Unions (CTC) and first secretary of the PCC in the province of Camagüey.
The presidency of the National Assembly of People’s Power was ratified, headed by Esteban Lazo. The vice president continues being Ana Mari Machado and the secretary Miriam Brito.
Council of State candidacy
Vice presidents
Ramiro Valdés, 85, one of the historic leaders of the Cuban Revolution and a member of the Political Bureau of the PCC, and Gladys Bejerano, 71, member of the Central Committee of the PCC and General Comptroller of the Republic.
Roberto Morales, member of the Political Bureau of the PCC and minister of public health.
Inés María Chapman, member of the Central Committee of the PCC and president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
Beatriz Jhonson, member of the Central Committee of the PCC and president of the Provincial Assembly of Santiago de Cuba.
Secretary
Homero Acosta
Ratified members
Leopoldo Cintra Frías
Teresa María Amarelle Boué
Ulises Guilarte de Nacimeinto
Mirian Nicado García
Guillermo García Frías
Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
Martha del Camren Mesa Valenciana
Carlos Rafael Miranda Martínez
Susely Morfa González
Rafael Antonio Santiestebán
Miguel Ángel Barnet
Ileana Amparo Flores Morales
New members
Raúl Alejandro Palmero Fernández
Jorge Amador Berlanga Acosta
Yipsy Moreno González
Elizabeth Peña
Yoerkys Sánchez Cuellar
Ivis Niuba Villa Milán
Bárbara Alexis Terry
Reina Salermo Escalona
Rosalina Fournier Frómeta
Carlos Alberto Martínez Blanco
Felicia Martínez Suárez
Under construction…
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