CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Media release futin salutes a truly remarkable leader

The world woke up this morning to the news, which though not entirely unexpected has still caused international headlines, that President Fidel Castro Ruz will not be standing for re-election as the President of the Council of State of Cuba when the country’s Parliament – the Assembly of Peoples Power meets this Sunday to elect members to the Council of State. The holder of the position of President of the Council of State is the President of the Republic of Cuba. President Castro also stated that he will no longer serve as Cuba’s Commander in Chief, a position that he has held since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in January 1959.

It is to be noted, not surprisingly, that Fidel’s decision to formally relinquish his official positions has provoked all manner of comments and speculation about the future of Cuba and its Revolution. Many of these comments are being made as if an obituary for Fidel Castro, when in fact he is very much alive and contributing to the Revolution. Others are offered as if some major changes in Cuba are imminent.

Those who make such statements clearly do not understand Cuba, nor do they appreciate what has been happening since Fidel became seriously ill some eighteen months ago. As soon as Fidel knew that he had to undergo major surgery and could no longer function as President of the Council of State he relinquished those responsibilities, with Raul Castro taking over. Effectively, therefore, for the last 18 months the Cuban Revolution has proceeded uneventfully and progressively without Fidel being President and Commander in Chief.

The transition in the leadership of the Revolution has therefore in reality been underway for many months. Today’s announcement has formalized that new reality. This points to the fact that the Cuban Revolution has been successfully built on the basis of the development of countless numbers of very talented, well educated and capable citizens who are committed to the ideals and goals of the Revolution. The Revolution has always been more than Fidel.

In this regard, it is to be noted that when Fidel became ill, Raul Castro was able to assume the position of President not because he is Fidel’s brother but because he, together with Fidel, Juan Almeida and a few others are the survivors of the July 26th 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks and were therefore part of the movement from its very inception. Raul’s history of struggle in the Cuban Revolution therefore is as old as that of Fidel’s and he is a very highly respected leader of the Revolution in his own right.

Many may seem surprised at Fidel’s announcement today. He, however, has been signaling for some time that he would not be seeking any formal office. Thus some months ago he wrote that he would not stand in the way of other, younger leaders and that he would not hold office or power for the sake of it. Fidel has been true to his word and this ought not to have come as surprise since his entire life was one of service to his people, to humanity and in particular to the exploited of the world and not, as the western media would wish us to believe, a person addicted to power.

The fact that Fidel was the undoubted leader of the Cuban Revolution for 49 years was due entirely to his keeping faith with his people and the high level of trust and respect that this engendered in the vast majority of Cubans. And it is Fidel’s integrity as a Revolutionary leader that earned him admiration and respect the world over. His “retirement” in no way diminishes that. In fact it enhances it as people see that a truly revolutionary example of a leader who recognizes that the Revolution is bigger than the individual and that the leader must exit centre stage. Indeed, the real test of a Revolution is whether it has planned for continuity after its founding leadership is no longer there. We have no doubt that the Cuban Revolution will pass this test.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) recognizes Fidel as a truly remarkable human being and an outstanding leader who has provided inspiration to millions the world over in their struggle for social justice, equity, dignity and peace. We salute Fidel for the five decades of leadership of the Cuban Revolution and we look forward to his continuing to be involved through his invaluable and wise writings and his contribution as a soldier in the “battle of ideas”!

David Abdulah
President

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