Vol. 73/No. 12      March 30, 2009

The capitalist media has taken the announcement as another opportunity to "speculate" about the transition in leadership in Cuba—and to search for fissures and conflicts to be exploited. The replacement of Pérez and Lage was variously presented as "evidence" of a factional struggle between supporters of Fidel Castro and those of Raúl Castro, or proof that Raúl Castro was removing potential "rivals" for power.

Such fishing expeditions reflect Washington's hope that they can find elements in the leadership willing to make concessions that it has vainly sought for decades, concessions that would turn Cuba's working people away from the 50-year revolutionary course they have fought for and defended—and the imperialists' frustration at being unable to do so.

Some among those active in solidarity with revolutionary Cuba have also expressed concern about the government changes, as if something exceptional had occurred that required further explanation.

There is nothing in the announced changes, however, that needs "comment" or "analysis" beyond what has been and will be provided by the appropriate bodies and leaders in Cuba when it serves the interests of defending the Cuban Revolution.

In addition to the initial long-discussed steps to consolidate and streamline government ministries, and the administrative apparatus, two Cuban leaders who were well-known internationally were removed for apparent cause, as unambiguously stated by former Cuban president Fidel Castro.

Referring to Pérez Roque and Lage, he noted that those replaced did not lack personal courage, but the "sweet nectar of power, for which they had made no sacrifice, awoke in them ambitions that led them to play a disgraceful role. The external enemy was filled with illusions about them.”

Since the attack on the Moncada barracks in 1953, which opened the revolutionary struggle to overthrow the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, the course of the leadership of the Cuban Revolution has started with and been guided by defending the interests of working people internationally and in Cuba. This course remains the test of leadership for all generations in Cuba and is at the heart of the steady, measured transition in leadership that has been under way for some years now.
 
 
Related articles:
Cuban 5 High Court appeal gains international support
Defender of travel to Cuba fights gov't probe
Cuban women's leader speaks at N.Y. campus
Cuban government replaces 10 high officials
U.S. Treasury Dep’t fines company over business with Cuba  
 
 
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