Raul Castro, long a sidekick, finally the face of his nation
Raul Castro, long a sidekick, finally the face of his nation
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FILE - In this March 17, 2015 file photo, Cuba’s President Raul Castro listens to the Cuban and Venezuelan national anthems during his welcome ceremony at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)
FILE - In this March 14, 1957 file photo, Fidel Castro, the young anti-Batista guerrilla leader, center, stands with his brother Raul Castro, front, and Camilo Cienfuegos, while operating in the mountains of eastern Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Andrew St. George, File)
FILE - In this March 21, 2016 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro, right, lifts up the arm of U.S. President Barack Obama at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Cuba. While Raul has been the face of communist Cuba, its defiance of U.S. efforts to oust its socialist system and its efforts to forge a rapprochement with its longtime foe for the past decade, he formally announced on Friday, April 16, 2021 that he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - In this April 18, 2018 file photo, a car drives by a billboard that reads in Spanish “Yes we could, yes we can, yes we will” alongside a picture of Cuban President Raul Castro on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019 file photo, Cuba’s First Secretary of Communist Party Raul Castro gives a speech during the celebration of 60th Anniversary of Cuban Revolution in front the tomb of his brother Fidel Castro at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (Yamil Lage/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2010 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro gestures next to Vice Presidents Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, center, and Abelardo Colome, right, during the closing ceremony of the second annual session of Cuba’s National Assembly in Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)
FILE - This June 10, 2016 file photo shows a family photograph of the Castro brothers, from left, Fidel, Raul and Ramon, on the wall of the room they shared as children in Biran, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 8, 1986 file photo, Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, joins hands with his younger brother Raul Castro, chief of the Cuban Armed Forces and first vice president, after the two were reelected during the 3rd Cuban Communist Party Congress session in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi, File)
FILE - In this April 19, 2011 file photo, Fidel Castro, left, raises the hand of his brother President Raul Castro as they sing the international socialism anthem during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano, File)
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FILE - In this March 17, 2015 file photo, Cuba’s President Raul Castro listens to the Cuban and Venezuelan national anthems during his welcome ceremony at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)
FILE - In this March 17, 2015 file photo, Cuba’s President Raul Castro listens to the Cuban and Venezuelan national anthems during his welcome ceremony at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)
FILE - In this March 14, 1957 file photo, Fidel Castro, the young anti-Batista guerrilla leader, center, stands with his brother Raul Castro, front, and Camilo Cienfuegos, while operating in the mountains of eastern Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Andrew St. George, File)
FILE - In this March 14, 1957 file photo, Fidel Castro, the young anti-Batista guerrilla leader, center, stands with his brother Raul Castro, front, and Camilo Cienfuegos, while operating in the mountains of eastern Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Andrew St. George, File)
FILE - In this March 21, 2016 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro, right, lifts up the arm of U.S. President Barack Obama at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Cuba. While Raul has been the face of communist Cuba, its defiance of U.S. efforts to oust its socialist system and its efforts to forge a rapprochement with its longtime foe for the past decade, he formally announced on Friday, April 16, 2021 that he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - In this March 21, 2016 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro, right, lifts up the arm of U.S. President Barack Obama at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Cuba. While Raul has been the face of communist Cuba, its defiance of U.S. efforts to oust its socialist system and its efforts to forge a rapprochement with its longtime foe for the past decade, he formally announced on Friday, April 16, 2021 that he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - In this April 18, 2018 file photo, a car drives by a billboard that reads in Spanish “Yes we could, yes we can, yes we will” alongside a picture of Cuban President Raul Castro on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File)
FILE - In this April 18, 2018 file photo, a car drives by a billboard that reads in Spanish “Yes we could, yes we can, yes we will” alongside a picture of Cuban President Raul Castro on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019 file photo, Cuba’s First Secretary of Communist Party Raul Castro gives a speech during the celebration of 60th Anniversary of Cuban Revolution in front the tomb of his brother Fidel Castro at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (Yamil Lage/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019 file photo, Cuba’s First Secretary of Communist Party Raul Castro gives a speech during the celebration of 60th Anniversary of Cuban Revolution in front the tomb of his brother Fidel Castro at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (Yamil Lage/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2010 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro gestures next to Vice Presidents Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, center, and Abelardo Colome, right, during the closing ceremony of the second annual session of Cuba’s National Assembly in Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2010 file photo, Cuban President Raul Castro gestures next to Vice Presidents Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, center, and Abelardo Colome, right, during the closing ceremony of the second annual session of Cuba’s National Assembly in Havana, Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes, File)
FILE - This June 10, 2016 file photo shows a family photograph of the Castro brothers, from left, Fidel, Raul and Ramon, on the wall of the room they shared as children in Biran, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - This June 10, 2016 file photo shows a family photograph of the Castro brothers, from left, Fidel, Raul and Ramon, on the wall of the room they shared as children in Biran, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 8, 1986 file photo, Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, joins hands with his younger brother Raul Castro, chief of the Cuban Armed Forces and first vice president, after the two were reelected during the 3rd Cuban Communist Party Congress session in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 8, 1986 file photo, Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, joins hands with his younger brother Raul Castro, chief of the Cuban Armed Forces and first vice president, after the two were reelected during the 3rd Cuban Communist Party Congress session in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi, File)
FILE - In this April 19, 2011 file photo, Fidel Castro, left, raises the hand of his brother President Raul Castro as they sing the international socialism anthem during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano, File)
FILE - In this April 19, 2011 file photo, Fidel Castro, left, raises the hand of his brother President Raul Castro as they sing the international socialism anthem during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba. For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother, but for the past decade, it’s Raul who’s been the face of communist Cuba. On Friday, April 16, 2021, Raul Castro formally announced he’d step down as head of the Communist Party, leaving Cuba without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time in more than six decades. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano, File)
HAVANA (AP) — For most of his life, Raul Castro played second-string to his brother Fidel — first as a guerrilla commander, later as a senior figure in their socialist government. But for the past decade, it’s Raul who has been the face of communist Cuba, its defiance of U.S. efforts to oust its socialist system — and its efforts to forge a rapprochement with its longtime foe.
The younger Castro, now 89, formally announced Friday that he would step down as first secretary of the island’s Communist Party, leaving the Caribbean nation without a Castro in an official position of command for the first time since the earliest days of the revolution that took power more than six decades ago.
“I concluded by task as first secretary ... with the satisfaction of having fulfilled (my duty) and confidence in the future of the fatherland,” he said at the eighth party congress — a typically terse, to-the-point finale that contrasted with the impassioned verbal pyrotechnics of his brother, who died in 2016.
The fourth of seven children of a Spanish immigrant in eastern Cuba, Raul had joined his charismatic older brother in a nearly suicidal attack on the Moncada military barracks in the eastern city of Santiago in 1953 and survived the crackdown that followed from the forces of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
He led a major front in the ensuing guerrilla war led by Fidel that toppled Batista. And he served for the following generation or two as head of the armed forces and eventually as Fidel’s designated successor. For many years, he was considered a more orthodox communist than his brother.
When Fidel fell ill in 2006, Raul took over as president in 2006 — and formally in 2008 — becoming head of the ruling Communist Party in 2011. He continued along the path of single party rule while softening a few of the restrictions on private enterprise that had stifled the state-dominated economy.
It was Raul who reached accords with U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 that created the most extensive U.S. opening to Cuba since the early 1960s — creating a surge in contacts with the United States that was largely reversed under Obama’s successor, Donald Trump.
As the bearded young insurgents who led the revolution entered their 70s and 80s, a change of command became inevitable. In 2018, Raul Castro passed the presidency to to Miguel Díaz-Canel, 60, who was widely expected to succeed him as head of the all-powerful party as well.
But Castro promised to remain involved.
“As long as I live, I will be ready with a food in the stirrup to defend the fatherland, the revolution and socialism,” he said Friday.