Bomb in Havana Fidel resigns and leaves power

Another major change in the world political scenario marks this 2008: Fidel Castro “leaves” power in Cuba. The quotation marks serve to show that he will not leave the scene completely. After almost half a century in power, “El Comandante” (Fidel’s nickname in Cuba) will continue to act with his “reflections” (as he named his recent letters, since he left office), his opinions and the strength of his presence as leader of the Communist Party.



You must be asking yourself: What changes in Cuba with Fidel's departure? First of all, we must remember that his brother, Raúl Castro, aged 76, will probably be chosen as his replacement. Raúl is Fidel's companion in the Revolution (he was the one who introduced Ernesto “Che” Guevara to his brother) and has led the Cuban army for almost 50 years.



Unlike the personified government represented by Fidel's “personal Special Data leadership”, the “Raulista” government thus far (and will probably continue) represents the Party as a whole. The changes must happen gradually and will be few (as Fidel will continue to influence many of his brother's decisions). Probably, the small changes that happen in the country should follow the model of China, another country with communist traditions.



Misery and "suffocation"







In Cuba, the population earns in Cuban pesos and purchases in convertible pesos. Which means that, when buying an object worth 70 convertible pesos, a person spent approximately 875 Cuban pesos, triple the salary of many Cubans. The people's biggest complaint is that, although social equality prevails in Cuba (what's for one is for all), this policy impedes personal prosperity. In other words, the population ends up being leveled at the bottom.



Cuba is a small island that is experiencing what some call “political suffocation” (it left the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, with the Cuban Revolution, to fall under the dictatorship of Fidel and the Castro family, which remained in power). In the country, there are 58 political prisoners, convicted of opposing Fidel's communist government.