Cuba's ruling Communist Party elected President Raul Castro and First Vice President Jose Machado Ventura to lead the country's highest political body on Tuesday, choosing party veterans to oversee a new economic course for the Caribbean nation.
The choice of Castro, 79, who replaces his older brother Fidel Castro as first secretary of the ruling party's Central Committee, was expected. But the appointment of party stalwart Machado Ventura, 80, as second secretary was likely to disappoint many Cubans hoping for new blood at the top.
Ramiro Valdes, a 78-year-old vice president, was named to the No. 3 spot. Several younger people were added to the 15-member leadership group, but in lesser positions.
Fidel Castro, 84, was not included in the party's leadership for the first time since its creation more than four decades ago. However, he made a surprise appearance at the Communist Party Congress, earning a thunderous applause from the crowd.
Raul Castro said his brother needed no formal title to continue being the country's guiding light. "Fidel is Fidel," he said.
"We have kept various veterans of the historic generation, and that is logical due to the consequences of the mistakes that have been made in this area," Raul told 1,000 delegates gathered in a sprawling Havana convention center.
"These have robbed us of a back bench of mature substitutes with enough experience to take on the country's top positions."
Many of the delegates could be seen crying as Fidel Castro he was helped to his place on stage Tuesday by a young aide, then stood at attention next to his brother during the playing of Cuba's national anthem.
The revolutionary icon looked unsteady on his feet as he clutched the aide's arm, and at times slumped in his chair. He wore a blue track suit top over a checked shirt. He looked unsteady on his feet as he clutched the aide's arm, and at times slumped in his chair.
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Fidel Castro: The Life of the Cuban Leader
But he became more animated as the proceedings continued, especially when Raul's name was read out by a party official announcing the members of the party's Central Committee.
Each newly elected official stood up, revealing a mix of young and old, including many women and Cubans of African descent. There were also a number of generals and other senior armed forces officials.
There had been speculation Fidel Castro might be given some sort of honorary party title, but he wrote in a column in state media published Tuesday: "I think I have received too many honors. I never thought I would live so many years."
"Raul knew that I would not accept at this time any position in the party," he wrote.
The elder Castro held the top job from the party's founding in 1965, but said last month he had resigned, without disclosing it publicly, when he fell seriously ill in 2006.
The meeting comes after weekend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Cuba's victory over a 1,200-strong invasion force of U.S.-backed exiles at the Bay of Pigs.
The Congress approved wide-ranging reforms to the island's struggling Soviet-style economy.
While the reforms approved are the biggest changes to Cuba's economy in decades, the leadership issue had loomed large at the four-day gathering since Raul Castro said in a speech Saturday the party was considering limiting future leaders, including himself, to two five-year terms.
Reforms include term limits
Fidel Castro ruled for 49 years. Raul Castro was his defense minister during that time and succeeded him as president.
A number of others in the leadership are aged in their 70s and 80s. The age issue is a concern because Raul Castro wants to make sure Cuban socialism survives after the current generation is gone.
Fidel Castro mentioned the proposed term limits in his column, saying it was one of the issues at the congress that most interested him.
The congress' approval of the package of more than 300 reforms had been widely expected because some have already begun, including the slashing of more than a million government jobs, allowing more self-employment and leasing state land to private farmers.
The reforms aim to cut spending by the debt-ridden government, cut subsidies, give more autonomy to state enterprises and encourage more foreign investment as part of a general overhaul of the economy.
In two of the bigger issues for average Cubans, the food ration all have received since 1963 will be phased out for those who do not need it and the buying and selling of homes will be permitted for the first time in many years.
Cubans are waiting to see if the government puts heavy restrictions on the latter.