Cuban lawmakers officially summoned to clarify Fidel Castro future

TOLERANCE.CA

HAVANA - Interim president Raul Castro has officially convened the National Assembly for a February 24 meeting to elect Cuba's next president, amid speculation ailing Fidel Castro might not be its choice for the first time in almost five decades.

Under a decree published in Saturday's official newspapers, Raul Castro, 76, summoned the 614 deputies -- including himself and his brother Fidel Castro, 81 -- selected in an uncontested January 20 vote, to the late February gathering to choose the Council of State. Its leader is Cuba's president.

Fidel Castro, Cuba's leader since 1959, has not appeared in public since taking ill 18 months ago. Fidel Castro underwent major intestinal surgery and handed over power to Raul Castro, the defense chief, temporarily.

Now what remains to be seen is whether Fidel Castro will agree to be reelected president and perhaps stay on in a ceremonial capacity, keeping Raul Castro on as interim leader.

Or, experts say, Fidel Castro could opt to step aside and allow Raul Castro to become president permanently.

Perhaps a longer shot, some Cuba-watchers say, would be for Fidel to step aside and allow a younger leader to take on the job now, opening the door to extending the Americas' only one-party communist regime well into the future.

On January 20, Raul Castro stressed that Cuba was facing "different situations and great decisions."