Raul Castro Expresses Confidence in New Cuban President

Havana, Apr 19 (Prensa Latina) Raul Castro today expressed confidence in the new president of the Councils of State and of Ministers of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and lauded his fidelity to the Revolution and his political strength.

Diaz-Canel's election was not by chance. We have no doubts that due to his virtues, experience and dedication to work he will have absolute success in the task that our supreme body of the State's power has entrusted him, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba said.

In his closing speech at the session to constitute the 9th Legislature of the People's Power National Assembly (Parliament) at Havana's Convention Center, Raul Castro highlighted Diaz-Canel's professional and political career.

The Army General spoke about his performance as the first secretary of the Communist Party in the provinces of Villa Clara and Holguín, and later as the minister of Higher Education and first vice-president of the Council of State.

Lawmaker Raul Castro announced today that at the upcoming session of the Cuban Parliament, in July, a commission would be proposed to present the draft of a new Constitution, and the changes would be discussed with the people and would be submitted to a popular referendum.

The new Cuban Constitution is among the priorities in the updating process under way in the country in order to strengthen its Revolution and move on in the construction of a prosperous and sustainable socialism.

Raul Castro pointed out that the new Constitution would not have changes in the strategic objective of the work of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), the ruling body of society and the State.

That will remain and the people will support it undoubtedly, as they did a few decades ago (when in 1976 the current Constitution was approved), the first secretary of the PCC Central Committee noted.

He added that he would continue to be the PCC first secretary until 2021, a post for which he was ratified in 2016 at the 7th PCC Congress.

In that regard, Raul Castro mentioned the possibility that in 2021, Diaz-Canel would hold the post of PCC first secretary, as well as president of the Council of State and of Ministers, as it has been a practice in Cuba.