HAVANA — Cuba on Monday began a five-month political transition expected to end with Raul Castro’s departure from the presidency, capping his family’s near-total dominance of the political system for nearly 60 years. The national assembly is expected to pick the president and members of the powerful Council of State by February. A few opposition candidates made it to that stage previously but were defeated. Raul Castro, 86, became president in 2008 and launched a series of slow-moving and limited socio-economic reforms after his brother Fidel stepped down due to illness. In the video, Diaz-Canel discusses plans for crackdowns on independent media, entrepreneurs and opposition groups trying to win municipal positions.

Source: National Post September 04, 2017 22:41 UTC