Former Cuban President Raul Castro, 95, appeared on Cuban television, less than a month after being seen in public in Havana to mark the centenary of the birth of his late brother Fidel Castro. The revolutionary leader appeared in a long report broadcast several times this weekend by state television. He participated in the 65e anniversary of a unit of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for the personal security of Cuban leaders, notably that of Fidel Castro (1959-2006).
Accompanied by his grandson and head of his personal security, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, Raul Castro (2006-2018) congratulated several veterans of this unit, according to images broadcast by television. Dressed in his traditional olive green uniform, he appeared alert.
Still an important role
Although Raul Castro no longer holds any official position in the government or the ruling Cuban Communist Party, he retains an important role in political decisions and enjoys the loyalty of the armed forces.
In June, the Cuban presidency announced that it had given the green light to economic reforms in favor of the market economy to deal with the unprecedented crisis which is shaking the island of 9.4 million inhabitants, put under strong pressure from the United States. These measures represent the biggest paradigm shift since Cuba adopted communism nearly 70 years ago.
