Tuesday marked the first time in 47 years that the Cuban president Fidel Castro has was not officially in charge of the country. Castro handed the reigns of government over to his brother, Raul, apparently after undergoing surgery. Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon denied contentions that Fidel Castro had died or that he was near death. With that said, Raul Castro, acting president, has not been seen in public. Cuban exiles in Miami took all of this as a sign that Fidel Castro had, in fact, died. The exiles took to celebrating in the streets of Miami. Back in Cuba, the primary television news broadcast provided no details whatsoever about Fidel Castro's condition. The anchor stated that Castro had the people's unconditional support. Fidel Castro has been in power in Cuba since the success of the Cuban Revolution, actually taking power on January 1, 1959. Castro drove out Dictator Fulgencio Batista. Batista was supported by the United States government. Castro is the longest ruling head of government in the world today. The most recent speculation about Castro's health was a 2005 report that he suffered from Parkinson's disease, which Castro has denied.
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (Spanish: Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, born on August 13, 1926) - Cuban revolutionary and politician, Commandant, Head of Cuba from 1959 to 2008.
Along with his brother Raul Castro and Argentinean Ernesto “Che Guevara”, Fidel Castro headed the revolutionary movement in Cuba against the dictator Batista. After victory on January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro became the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba and from 1976 to 2008 - President.
Fidel Castro was born in a rich family and has graduated in law. While studying in the University of Havana, he began his political career and became a significant figure in the politics of Cuba. His political career received nationalist criticism from President Fulgensio Batista and also from political and corporate influence of the USA on Cuba. His gained recognition, but limited, and also has drawn attention of other authorities. Subsequently, Fidel Castro headed a failed attack in 1953 on the Moncada Barracks, was taken as prisoner and tried, but was later set free. Then, he went to Mexico to prepare for the invasion of Cuba and the overthrow of the Batista governance, which started in December 1956.
Fidel Castro came to power subsequently as a result of the Cuban revolution, which overthrew the dictatorship of Batista. Soon after, Fidel Castro became the Prime Minister of Cuba. In 1965, he became the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and transformed Cuba into a single-party Socialistic Republic. In 1976, Fidel Castro became the Chairman of the State Council and also chairman of the council of ministers. He also held the highest military rank of Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban armed forces.
While recovering from surgery due to an intestinal illness, caused by inflammation of diverticulum, Fidel Castro temporarily passed on the powers to First Vice-President, younger brother Raul Castro on July 31, 2006. On February 19, 2008, five days prior to the expiry of the mandate, Fidel Castro declared that he will not contest for a new term neither for the post of President nor for the post of Commander-in-Chief. On February 24, 2008, the National Assembly elected Raul Castro as the President of Cuba.
In the 1958 summer, the armed forces of Batista undertook large-scale offensive operations against revolutionary forces, after which the events began to develop quickly. The students’ federations, which formed the so-called “Second Group” in the mountains of Sierra-del-Escambray in the central part of the island, joined Fidel Castro's armed forces. In the west, in Pinar del Rio, the Third Group was operating, which was under the control of the 26th of July Revolutionary Movement.
Prime Minister:
The population of the capital was happy after the fall of the Batista regime. On the very day, the political opponents of Batista gathered at a meeting, where the new government was formed. Temporarily, Manuel Urrutia Lleo, known for his honesty, was made the President of Cuba and the Prime Minister - liberal lawyer Miro Cardona. Fidel Castro, who was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces arrived in the capital on January 8, and at once claimed the leadership in the government. In 1957, Fidel Castro, while giving an interview to journalist Herbert Mathews of the “New York Times” in Sierra-Maestra , stated : “Power does not interest me. After victory, I will return to my village and will practice law”. Well-known revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara said:
“He possesses qualities of a great leader, which in combination with his courage, with his energy and with his rare ability to recognize the will of people every time, it has lifted him to such a place of honor, which he now occupies”.
However, things took a different shape. When the Prime Minister of Cuba Miro Cardona retired on 15th February, Fidel Castro became the new head of the government. In June that year, he cancelled the earlier planned general elections, stopped using the 1940 constitution, which guarantees fundamental laws, and started heading the country exclusively with the help of decrees.
On May 17, 1959, the Council of Ministers of Cuba passed the Agrarian Reform Law; according to which, an area of more than 400 hectares was taken away from owners and distributed amongst the peasants. This law and also Fidel Castro's close association with communists displeased the USA. Soon, the USA Air Force started bombardments in Havana, which in turn has strengthened the bonding of Cubans with revolutionaries and allowed Castro to strengthen his power. Thousands of counter-revolutionaries were arrested. A large army was formed for the protection of the revolution. Later, Fidel Castro declared the nationalization of large enterprises and banks, especially belonging to Americans.
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