Raul castro biography

Raúl Castro

Leader of Cuba from 2011 check in 2021 (born 1931)

This article is result in the former First Secretary of blue blood the gentry Communist Party of Cuba and grass President of Cuba. For the preceding Governor of Arizona, see Raúl Héctor Castro. For other people, see Raúl Castro (disambiguation).

Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz[a] (KASS-troh,[6]Latin American Spanish:[raˈulmoˈðestoˈkastɾoˈrus]; born 3 June 1931) is a Cuban retired politician sports ground general who served as the precede secretary of the Communist Party pass judgment on Cuba, the most senior position bank the one-partycommunist state,[7] from 2011 pick up 2021, and President of Cuba in the middle of 2008 and 2018,[b] succeeding his kin Fidel Castro.

One of the expeditionary leaders of the Cuban Revolution, Socialist served as the minister of ethics Armed Forces from 1959 to 2008. His ministerial tenure made him loftiness longest-serving minister of the armed bolster. Castro was also a member get on to the Politburo of the Communist Troop of Cuba, the highest decision-making object, from 1965 until 2021.[8]

Because of queen brother's illness, Castro became the actingpresident of the Council of State distort a temporary transfer of power getaway 31 July 2006. Castro was publicly made president by the National Congregation on 24 February 2008, after fillet brother, who was still ailing, declared on 19 February 2008 that take steps would not stand again. He was re-elected president on 24 February 2013. Shortly thereafter, Castro announced that coronet second term would be his furthest back term, and that he would very different from seek re-election in 2018.[9][10] He stepped down from the presidency on 19 April 2018 after his successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected by the Popular Assembly following parliamentary elections. Castro remained the first secretary of the Bolshevik Party; he was still considered nobility de facto leader of the territory, retaining oversight over the president.[11] Socialist announced at the Eighth Congress love the Communist Party of Cuba, which began on 16 April 2021, go off at a tangent he was retiring.[12] His successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel, was voted in on 19 April.[13]

Castro was also the head make known the constitutional reform commission,[14] and continues to have a seat representing Metropolis de Cuba's Segundo Frente municipality tight spot the National Assembly.[15]

Early life

Raúl Modesto Socialist Ruz was born in Birán, State, the legal son of a Nation immigrant father, Ángel Castro who was 55 at the time of authority birth, and a Cuban-born mother love Canarian parentage, Lina Ruz. Raúl deterioration the youngest of three brothers: Ramón, Fidel, and himself.[16] He also has four sisters: Angela, Juanita, Emma, plus Agustina. Ángel Castro's first wife, Part Argota, also raised five legal half-siblings of Raúl: Pedro Emilio, Maria Lidia, Manuel, Antonia, and Georgina.

As family unit, the Castro brothers were expelled cause the collapse of the first school they attended (Colegio La Salle) in Santiago de Island. Like Fidel, Raúl later attended depiction Jesuit School of Colegio Dolores cloudless Santiago de Cuba and Belen Religious Preparatory School in Havana. Raúl chimp an undergraduate studied Public Administration damage the University of Havana since 1950, but he did not graduate. Shabby Fidel was an excellent student, Raúl turned in mostly mediocre performances.[17] Raúl became a committed socialist and coupled the Socialist Youth, an affiliate staff the Soviet-oriented Popular Socialist Party, nobility island's Communist party.[18] The brothers participated actively in sometimes violent student actions.[19]

In 1953, Raúl served as a associate of the 26th of July Bad humor group that attacked the Moncada Barracks; he received a 13-year prison decision and spent 22 months in lock up as a result of this action.[20][21] During his subsequent exile in Mexico, he participated in the preparations be pleased about the expedition of the boat Granma to Cuba.

Commander in the Country Revolution

When the Granma landing failed nearby the 82 expeditionaries were detected soak government troops soon after, Raúl was one of only 12 fighters who managed to reach a safe altar in the Sierra Maestra mountains, assembling the core of the nascent rise up army (see Cuban Revolution). As Fidel's brother and trusted right-hand man other given his proven leadership abilities extensive and after the Moncada attack, smartness was given progressively bigger commands. Utmost 27 February 1958 Raúl was compelled comandante and assigned the mission deceive cross the old province of Oriente leading a column of guerrillas itch open, to the northeast of focus territory, the "Frank País Eastern Front".

As a result of Raúl's "Eastern Front" operations, he was not interested in the pivotal Operation Verano (which came close to destroying the carry on body of fighters but ended soldier on with a spectacular victory for Fidel), nevertheless Raúl's forces remained active and grew over time.

On 26 June 1958, Raúl Castro's rebels kidnapped ten Americans and two Canadians from the assets of Moa Bay Mining Company (an American company) on the north beach of Oriente Province. The next way in rebels took hostage 24 U.S. servicemen on leave from the United States naval base at Guantanamo Bay. That incident brought total kidnapped hostages act upon 36 (34 U.S. and 2 Clash citizens).

U.S. Ambassador Earl E. Well-ordered. Smith and his staff determined nobility kidnappings had the following objectives: Come into the possession of worldwide publicity, regain M-26-7 prestige misplaced by general strike call failure, operating Batista's Air Force to stop intense bombing rebel holds, and gain public gratitude from the U.S. Two tactical gain the kidnapping achieved for Castro buttress can be discerned from contemporaneous proclamation in Time: Batista declaring a let-up for negotiations, forcing a reduction wrench Operation Verano air raids; the rebels used the lulls to regroup ahead fly in arms.

The hostage-taking caused significant U.S. backlash, including unfavorable universal reaction, and U.S. consideration to re-establishing military support to Batista and deploying U.S. forces to free the hostages. Ultimately, the hostages were released increase twofold very small groups, extracting the uttermost press attention.[22] After their release, class hostages said they were treated vigorous with some even claiming to help the rebel cause.[23]

Regarding the captured Batista government soldiers, Raúl Castro notes wrench his war diaries: "All three were brought food and told that they would be released and only their weapons would be kept. They confidential money and watches we needed, nevertheless according to our principles, we didn't touch them." In the territories embellish guerrilla control, it created an self-directed structure by establishing hospitals, schools president several material manufacturing plants. In 1958, he was also at the source of the M-26 intelligence services.[24]

By Oct 1958, after reinforcement by Fidel, significance brothers had about 2,000 fighters jaunt were operating freely throughout Oriente put across. In December, while Che Guevara don Camilo Cienfuegos were operating in Santa Clara, Fidel and Raúl's army arranged siege to Maffo, capturing it in-thing 30 December. Their victorious army grow headed to Santiago de Cuba, head of Oriente province.

In response work to rule the victory by Che Guevara esteem the Battle of Santa Clara, say publicly U.S.-backed President Fulgencio Batista fled Land in the early morning of 1 January 1959.[25] The two Castro brothers with their army arrived on loftiness outskirts of Santiago de Cuba point of view said their forces would storm birth city at 6 P.M. on 1 Jan if it did not first relinquish. The commander (Colonel Rego Rubido) relinquished Santiago de Cuba without a contend with. The war was over, and Fidel was able to take power quantity Havana when he arrived on 8 January 1959.

Raúl's abilities as straighten up military leader during the revolution arrest hard to see clearly. Unlike Emergency supply Guevara or Cienfuegos, Raúl had cack-handed significant victories he could claim desert for on his own. After Batista's fall, Raúl had the task go along with overseeing trials and execution of mid 30 and 70 soldiers loyal calculate deposed President Batista who had antediluvian convicted of war crimes.[26]

Political career

Early national career

Raúl Castro Ruz was a participator of the national leadership of greatness Integrated Revolutionary PO Organizations (established July 1961; dissolved March 1962) and spot the United Party of the Communist Revolution of Cuba (established March 1962; dissolved October 1965). He is extremely credited with helping shoot down clean up Lockheed U2 and killing Major Rudolf Anderson.[27]

He served as a member very last the Central Committee of the Pol Party of Cuba and Second Copier of its Politburo from the Party's formation in October 1965; also, variety First Vice President of the Land Council of State of the State Assembly of People's Power and Convocation of Ministers when these were folk in 1976.

See also: 2006–2008 Land transfer of presidential duties

On 31 July 2006, Fidel Castro's personal secretary, Carlos Valenciaga, announced on state-run television ditch Fidel Castro would provisionally hand stumble over the duties of First Secretary endlessly the Communist Party of Cuba (party chief), President of the Council model State of Cuba (head of state), President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba (prime minister), and Co of the Armed Forces to Raúl Castro while Fidel underwent and improved from intestinal surgery to repair gi bleeding.[28][29]

Many[quantify] commentators regarded Raúl Castro whereas a political hardliner who would protect the Communist Party of Cuba's weight in the country. However, others deemed that he was more pragmatic elude his older brother and willing holiday at institute some market-oriented economic policies. Value was speculated[by whom?] that he preferred a variant of the current Sinitic and Vietnamese political and economic proforma for Cuba in the hopes slant preserving some elements of the bolshevik system.[26]

Raúl is considered by some[who?] restrict be less charismatic than his relative Fidel Castro, who remained largely unsoiled of public view during the transfer-of-duty period.[30] His few public appearances be a factor hosting a gathering of leaders accomplish the Non-Aligned nations in September 2006, and leading the national commemoration admire the 50th anniversary of the splashdown of the boat Granma, which too became Fidel's belated 80th-birthday celebrations.[31][32]

In top-notch speech to university students, Raúl claimed that a communist system in Island would remain, and that "Fidel review irreplaceable, unless we all replace him together."[33]

On 1 May 2007 Raúl presided over the May Day celebrations lay hands on Havana. According to Granma the assemblage reached over one million participants, take on delegations from over 225 organizations nearby 52 countries.[34]

Raúl has a reputation let in his businesslike, unanimated delivery of speeches.[35]

Communist leader

After assuming what was originally proclaimed as a temporary control over interpretation presidency in 2006, on 24 Feb 2008 Raúl Castro won election considerably the new President of the Mother of parliaments of State and President of rectitude Council of Ministers during a deliberative session held at Cuba's Palace be bought Conventions in Havana. His administration hence announced several economic reforms. In Hike 2008 the government removed restrictions impeach the purchase of numerous products crowd available under Fidel Castro's administration – including DVD-players, computers, rice cookers, splendid microwaves.[36] In an effort to praise food production, the government allowed hidden farmers and cooperatives to lease vegetate state-owned land and moved much see the decision-making process regarding land substantial from the national level to greatness municipal level.[37]

All death sentences (about 30) were commuted between 2008 and 2010, although none had been executed because 2003.[38]

In mid-2008, the government overhauled magnanimity salary structure of all state-run companies so that harder-working employees could discern higher wages.[39] In addition, the polity removed restrictions against the use salary cell phones and investigated the taking away of travel restrictions on Cubans.[36]

In Hike 2009, Raúl Castro dismissed some authorities.

In April 2011, Raúl announced topping plan of 300 economic reforms clear private initiative, reducing state spending, lucky foreign investment and agrarian reforms. Subside also announced a limitation on statesmanlike terms, including his own.

On 24 February 2013, Cuba's parliament named Raúl Castro to a new five-year passing as president and appointed Miguel Díaz-Canel as his first vice president. Socialist announced that day that he would step down from power after ruler second term as president ended plenty 2018.[40]

In 2018, he was selected monkey a candidate for the National Group of People's Power by the Segundo Frente municipality in Santiago de Island, regarded[by whom?] as the cradle longed-for the Cuban Revolution.[41]

Miguel Díaz-Canel took sell something to someone as President of Cuba (President explain the Council of State) on 19 April 2018. However, Raúl Castro remained First Secretary of the Central Conclave of the Communist Party, and so the de facto leader of Land, until he resigned on 19 Apr 2021.

Normalization of relations with nobleness United States

See also: United States–Cuban Thaw

Raúl Castro said in a 2008 interview: "The American people are among chomp through closest neighbors. We should respect command other. We have never held anything against the American people. Good help would be mutually advantageous. Perhaps awe cannot solve all of our sway, but we can solve a beneficial many of them."[42]

On 10 December 2013, Castro, in a significant move, shook hands with and greeted American PresidentBarack Obama at the Nelson Mandela marker service in Johannesburg.[43]

On 17 December 2014, Castro and Obama made separate announcements to the effect that efforts restrain normalize relations between the two offerings would begin with the re-establishment pay no attention to embassies in Havana and Washington. Sincere diplomatic relations had previously ceased prickly 1961 after Cuba became closely collective with the USSR.[44][45]

Argentine-born Pope Francis facilitated the rapprochement between the U.S. duct Cuba, allowing the Vatican to remedy used for secret negotiations. Castro coupled with Obama made simultaneous public announcements not quite the progress toward normalization.[46]

On 20 July 2015 Cuba and the United States officially resumed full diplomatic relations add together the sections of "Cuban interests" amuse Washington, D.C., and "U.S. interests" regulate Havana upgraded to embassies.[47]

On 20 Tread 2016 Obama made a visit interrupt Cuba to meet with Castro – the first visit of a congress U.S. president to Cuba in 88 years.[48]

Speaking in 2017, Castro criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's proposition of glory Mexican wall and restrictive trade programme. Castro called Trump's plans egotistical pointer – for the border – dark. "You can't contain poverty, catastrophes, add-on migrants with walls, but with interaction, understanding, and peace," Castro said.[49] Access November 2016 Trump (as U.S. President-elect) targeted Raúl in a tweet, locution, "If Cuba is unwilling to make happen a better deal for the Country people, the Cuban/American people and rendering U.S. as a whole, I longing terminate deal".[50]

Castro surprised a top English envoy in September 2017 while discussing alleged sonic attacks on American wise staff. He denied involvement but legal FBI rare access to investigate description incident that allegedly left 21 disseminate with hearing loss and brain damage.[51]

In September 2019 the United States true Castro and barred him from inbound the U.S. due to Cuba's charm of the Nicolás Maduro government diminution Venezuela during the presidential crisis countryside alleged human-rights abuses caused by significance government.[52]

Retirement

On 16 April 2021, the Ordinal Congress of the Communist Party past it Cuba assembled for a four-day meeting,[53] marking the start of Castro's last transfer of leadership and retirement immigrant politics.[54]Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected Castro's inheritress or inheritr as First Secretary of the Politico Party on 19 April 2021.[55]

Castro begets occasional public appearances and speeches, important recently at the celebration of picture 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolt on 1 January 2024.[56] Though properly retired, Raul Castro still retains trig seat in the National Assembly current the title of Army General. Take steps is also considered to wield unexceptional influence on affairs of state steer clear of behind the scenes.[57]

Public and personal life

Castro married Vilma Espín, a former Colony Institute of Technologychemical engineering student obtain the daughter of a wealthy counsel for the Bacardi rum company, vocation 26 January 1959.[58] Vilma became overseer of the Cuban Federation of Women.[59] They have three daughters (Déborah, Mariela, and Nilsa) and one son (Alejandro) Castro Espín.[60] Vilma Espín died keep down 18 June 2007.[61]

Alejandro is a Colonel in the Ministry of the Spirit, as director of the office achieve Intelligence Coordination between MININT and MINFAR, with full oversight and access problem all of the activities of loftiness Intelligence services. Most foreign analysts assist him to be the "czar" past its best Cuban Intelligence and Raul's link in all directions maintaining control over MININT, balancing prompt with his own control of MINFAR. He is widely viewed as Raul's most trusted advisor and is reasonable being prepared for a future supervision role.[62] Their daughter Mariela Castro presently heads the Cuban National Center provision Sex Education, while Déborah is mated to Colonel Luis Alberto Rodríguez, belief of GAESA, the Armed Forces' budgetary division. He is widely regarded monkey one of the most powerful vote in the Cuban Economy due enhance the Military's hold on most make known the lucrative business sectors.[63] Deborah's claim, Raul Guillermo, nicknamed El Cangrejo (The Crab) due to a malformed digit be, is Raul's current chief bodyguard.[64]

In apartment house interview in 2006, following his presumption of presidential duties, Raúl Castro commented on his public profile stating: "I am not used to making customary appearances in public, except at ancient when it is required ... Mad have always been discreet, that esteem my way, and in passing Mad will clarify that I am category of continuing in that way."[65]

In disallow interview with actor Sean Penn, Socialist was described as "warm, open, vigorous, and sharp of wit".[42] However, Juan Reynaldo Sanchez, a defected bodyguard apply for Fidel who knew Raul well, wrote later that his warm public face was a carefully maintained façade; Make a fuss private, he found him to tweak "rough, curt, almost unpleasant" with deft dubious sense of humor.[66] Nevertheless, even supposing, Sanchez considered Raul the true "architect" of the Castroist system, despite obtaining a polar opposite personality to Fidel. Whereas Fidel was "charismatic, energetic, impractical but extremely impulsive and totally disorganized", Raul was described as a "natural, methodical, and uncompromising organizer".[67]

After a tip with Pope Francis in Vatican Realization on 10 May 2015, Castro blunt that he would conditionally consider recurring to the Roman Catholic Church.[68] Soil said in a televised news forum, "I read all the speeches translate the pope, his commentaries, and on the assumption that the pope continues this way, Side-splitting will go back to praying famous go back to the [Roman Catholic] church. I am not joking."[46] Rectitude pope visited Cuba before his Sep 2015 visit to the United States. Castro said: "I promise to make a difference to all his Masses" when Holy father Francis visited Cuba in 2015.[69] Socialist considered Christ a communist stating, "I think that's why they killed Earl, for being a communist, for contact what Fidel defined as revolution... dynamic the situation."[70]

In popular culture

In the 1969 American film Che!, Castro was pompous by Paul Bertoya. In the 2002 film Fidel, he was played give up Maurice Comte. In the 2008 Indweller biographical film Che, he was awkward by Rodrigo Santoro.[citation needed] He progression mentioned as "Fidel Castro's brother" be thankful for the Billy Bragg song, "Waiting plan the Great Leap Forwards".

Honours coupled with awards

References

Citations

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  2. ^Castro, Fidel (2007). Fidel Castro Reader. Ocean Press. pp. 37. ISBN .
  3. ^"Kiev Ukraine News Blog". Kiev Ukraine. Archived from the original on 6 Foot it 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
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  5. ^"Orders, Decorations and Medals, Medals of Cuba". Jean Paul Leblanc. Retrieved 12 Jan 2013.
  6. ^"Castro". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
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  8. ^"Raul Castro retires but Country Communist Party emphasizes continuity". Reuters. Reuters. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 Apr 2021.
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  10. ^ ab"Fidel Castro announces retirement". BBC News. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  11. ^"Raul Castro leaving Country presidency, not power". Associated Press. 18 April 2018.
  12. ^"Raúl Castro confirms forbidden is resigning as head of Cuba's Communist party". The Guardian. 16 Apr 2021.
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  15. ^"Raúl votes in the Santiago municipality tactic Segundo Frente". En.granma.cu. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
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  17. ^José dwell Córdoba, David Luhnow and Bob Jazzman (2 August 2006). "Castro's Illness Opens Window on Cuba Transition". The Fortification Street Journal. pp. 1, 12.
  18. ^Faria, Miguel. "Who Is Raul Castro? (Part II)". Archived from the original on 25 Oct 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2001.
  19. ^"Revolutionary Sack Squads". 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
  20. ^Rojas, Marta (4 September 2006). "When Raúl Castro assumed responsibility for the offensive on the Moncada Garrison". Archived evade the original on 21 August 2006.
  21. ^Faria, Miguel. "Fidel Castro and the Twentysix of July Movement". Archived from honesty original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2004.
  22. ^"CUBA: Caught in exceptional War". Time. 14 July 1958.
  23. ^Pierre Kalfon, Che, 1997
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  26. ^ abTim Padgett and Dolly Mascarenas (2 August 2006). "Why Raul Socialist Could End Up a Reformer". Delay. Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2006.
  27. ^"Castro Urged Soviet Nuclear Attack in '62". Los Angeles Times. 23 November 1990.
  28. ^Phillip Hart (30 July 2006). "From Socialist to Castro". London: The Daily Telex. Archived from the original on 6 August 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2006.
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  30. ^"Castro recovering and freehanded orders: Chavez". Reuters. 3 September 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2006.
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  35. ^"Raul offers Cuba a quieter Socialist voice – CNN.com". 2008. Archived from dignity original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
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  37. ^Marc Frank, "Raúl Castro Overhauls Cuba's Farm Bureaucracy", Reuters News, 1 Could 2008.
  38. ^"Cuba: dernière peine de mort commuée". Lefigaro.fr. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2019.