Cubans will go to the polls on January 20th for elections deciding the future of 81 year old Fidel Castro, according to The Australian.
A government decree signed by Acting President Raul Castro – the veteran revolutionary, and communist, leader’s younger brother – set the date for the election of deputies to the provincial and national assemblies.
The electoral process is to culminate by early 2008 in the formation of a new national assembly and selection of 31 members of Cuba’s Council of State.
Fidel Castro, 81, has been president of the council – and as such of Cuba – since the 1960s.
HVOR ER FIDEL?
He still formally holds the title, even though he “provisionally” handed over to Raul Castro, 76, Cuba’s Defence Minister and longtime No.2, after undergoing gastrointestinal (mave- og tarmoperation) surgery in July last year.
Speculation has since been rife as to whether the elder Castro would return to power.
Cuban officials have insisted, he would resume his full powers, but now generally steer clear of the issue, as the leader continues to convalesce (komme sig, red.) at an undisclosed location.
Fidel Castro has been prolific (fremstående, synlig, red.) in writing opinion pieces published by state-run media, which officials hail as proof the veteran revolutionary is keeping up with local and world events.
But he has made no public appearance, other than on television, since his surgery, and authorities have released only scant (begrænsede, red.) details of his medical condition.
He reportedly cast his ballot (stemme, red.) in municipal elections last month in the presence of an electoral official, but out of the view of television cameras.
