Cuba Prez, 84, says leaders too old, proposes age limit
Cuba Prez, 84, says leaders too old, proposes age limit
President Raul Castro warned Cubans on Saturday that the United States was determined to end Cuba's socialist revolution despite restoring relations and a visit by US President Barack Obama, saying one-party Communism was essential to defend the system.
-"We must be alert, today more than ever,-" Mr Castro said, speaking in front of a giant portrait of his brother Fidel Castro at the inauguration of the Communist Party's first congress in five years.
Speaking for over two hours, Mr Castro used a defiant tone that belied the breakthrough between the Cold War enemies. He said Mr Obama's desire to end US sanctions was welcome but just a change of -"method-", in reference to efforts by Washington to bring political change to Cuba ever since the Castro brothers toppled a pro-American government in 1959.
Mr Obama and Mr Castro announced in December 2014 they would end decades of hostility and normalise relations.
Further, Mr Castro said that future top leaders of Cuba's Communist party should retire at 70 to let in younger blood, suggesting older members of the party hoping for promotion to the top table could play with their grandchildren instead.
Cuba's current leaders include several septuagenarian or octogenarian veterans of Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.
There is a growing urgency for them to make succession plans to keep the party alive once they are gone.
Raul Castro himself is 84 and after his planned retirement from government in two years, the country is likely to be led by somebody with a different surname for the first time since his brother overthrew a pro-US government nearly 60 years ago.
His comments were met with silence, perhaps because some members were disappointed with the idea.
