Inside Story

A new era in Cuba?

After six decades, Cuba will not have a Castro in an official position of command.

For the first time in 60 years, Cuba will not have a Castro in an official position of command.

Raul Castro, 89, is relinquishing his position as head of the Communist Party.

He says he wants to pass the baton to a younger generation.

Raul and his late brother, Fidel, began their leadership of Cuba after the Communist Revolution in 1959.

As he now heads into retirement, Raul Castro leaves a country racked by the economic effects of coronavirus and United States sanctions and with growing signs of dissent.

So will this bring political change? And what about relations with the US?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

Philip Brenner – Professor emeritus in the School of International Service at American University and co-author of Cuba Libre: A 500-Year Quest for Independence

Carlos Alzugaray – Former Cuban ambassador to the European Union

John Suarez – Executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba