Why castro is still in power

In response, the party has said one of the functions of its congress would be "confronting political and ideological subversion, which has made internet and social media its principal field of operations". But despite the change in leadership, few expect it will prompt a dramatic change in policy direction. A new constitution in confirmed state dominance of the economy and the "irrevocability of socialism". Mr Castro told the congress he was retiring as "a simple revolutionary fighter".

Cuba's new constitution: What's in and what's out. Image source, EPA. Not unexpected, but no less historic. End of an era. Image source, Getty Images. A protester carrying an American flag runs through Havana's revolution square on May Day ahead of a government-sponsored parade as plainclothes Cuban security agents try to catch him.

International human rights groups criticize the Cuban government for repressing internal dissent. Cuban officials say the island's dissidents are "mercenaries" paid by Washington to stir up trouble. A worker at the Partagas factory in Havana sorts some of Cuba's famed cigars to ensure that each box contains tobacco of the same color. Cuban cigars are still rolled by hand as they have been for generations. For years, Cuban cigars were banned in the US, but as part of his shift in policy toward Cuba, President Obama changed the law to allow US citizens to bring habanos back from trips abroad.

A young Cuban girl in her "pioneer" school uniform lights a candle at a Havana church days before the visit of Pope Francis to Cuba. Religion was all but banned following the Cuban revolution, and Catholics in particular faced government discrimination for openly practicing their faith. Over the last 20 years, the Cuban government has slowly eased restrictions on religion. In , Raul Castro, a longtime atheist, said meeting the Pope made him consider returning to the Catholic church.

Now 86 years old, Raul Castro will step down as president of Cuba on April 19, Although he will remain as the powerful first secretary of the Communist Party in Cuba, Castro says it is time for the next generation of supporters of the Cuban revolution to take power.

Heirs apparent? For years, many Cubans speculated that Raul Castro's daughter Mariela -- a member of the National Assembly and advocate for gay and transgender rights -- or his son, Alejandro -- a colonel in Cuban counterintelligence who represented the island in secret talks with the United States -- would be the next Castros to take power. Fidel Castro's son commits suicide. Inside a Cuban cigar factory. The moniker came from low-level government employees who found out the hard way that at any hour Diaz-Canel could show up unannounced to inspect whether workers were actually on the job and not pilfering supplies or taking a nap.

That fastidiousness and willingness to work around the clock may be key assets in Diaz-Canel's new position as president. Will a new leader make a difference? Few people expect much to change in the only Communist-run country in the Western Hemisphere, at least not right away. He was seen frequently with Fidel Castro, whom he described as being like a father to him.

Strict lockdowns and measures have kept the numbers of cases and deaths below those of most countries in the region, but they have also tested the patience of many Cubans. Cuba has developed five vaccine candidates and two are in late-stage trials.

Mobile internet has allowed videos of protests to quickly spread among Cubans and also helped activists mobilize. A large protest in November by artists demanding greater freedom of expression made headlines across the globe.

But some experts believe Castro's move is important in order to speed up economic reforms. Law and Politics People and Community. Photo: The Associated Press. By Barbara Gutierrez. By Barbara Gutierrez