It’s hard to differ with the consensus assessment of the Fidel Castro interview with Randy Alonso taped last Friday and aired tonight: he's healthier than in previous footage we have seen of him, fuller, a little older, a little grayer, a little slower in speech. Dressed todo deportivo, he talks about the past, and about foreign affairs, not about current affairs of state. And he talks about writing more “reflections” in the newspaper.
Summing up, the
Regarding all the above, this may be one rare aspect of
A transfer of authority has certainly taken place through last July’s temporary delegation of executive powers. Decisions are being made, and there’s every likelihood that those in charge now will continue to be in charge once Fidel Castro fully withdraws from the scene.
Legally, that’s a succession. In practical terms, not quite. Fidel Castro’s presence is still felt, to a greater degree than just a few months ago, although his distance from current government issues – in public at least – gives him a certain comandante emeritus quality. By all lights Raul Castro has not yet filled his brother’s political space. There are more chapters to come.
[Photo: not mine, origin unknown]
6 comments:
Notice how hard-liners like Suchlicki can not bring themselves to beleive that Fidel would not take back power. It must be that his condition prevents it. Their arguments always rest on the basis that Fidel is in it for power.
I am more convinced than ever that Fidel is not coming back, even though he increasingly could. He must be pleased about the way the country has progressed without him at the helm. He is in legacy mode now...
I haven't seen anyone comment about something else that occured to me watching the interview: Cuba may very well be signaling its intention to follow elements of the Vietnam model. Cuba has always made clear its intention to follow its own path but Fidel seems genuinely impressed by the Vietnam experience since Doi Moi. This is in contrast to his opinions on the reforms in China or Eastern Europe.
Hard-liner or not, do you think there is anything in the world that would stop FC from coming back to office if his health permitted it? He himself made it clear several years ago -- just in case anyone was in doubt -- that he had no plans to retire, ever.
Re Vietnam's economic policies, I think no one has commented because no one has seen any signals. Have we missed something?
The Vietnam thing is just a hunch I've had over the years. So when Fidel spent half the interview going over the minutae of Vietnam's development statistics in his first interview in 10 months I thought that was significant. I see Fidel and Raul have been invited for a trip to Vietnam next year...
But yes, I beleive that Fidel sees very compelling reasons to stay out of (official) power. It will allow him to concentrate on the larger, global issues he has always fancied himself a leader (ala Clinton). It will allow him to remain vindicated that the Revolution was not a 1-man show and disprove all those who dismissed him as a typical power hungry dictator. As long as he is there keeping an eye on things as "comandante en jefe" (as the newscaster took pains to repeat) there is no real need for all the titles, is there? As for his comments about having "no plans" to retire I chalk that up to playing his cards close to the vest on that sensitive question. I think an early retirement would be the best thing he could do for his legacy and that appears to be where he's focussed.
FC no volverá, tiene muchos impedimentos, principalmente el delos suyos "aconsejándole" que se tome un descanso, que "sirve" mejor a la revolución con su pluma, y alguno que otro "chicharrón" comparándole con Martí escritor, bueno, esa debe ser la tónica con tal de que no vuelva a pararse en público a decir barrabasadas. Al menos lo que escribe se presta a revisiónes y arreglos ante de ver la luz algún esperpento fideliano.
Did someone say "early" retirement? "Early?
The "early" comment was in reference to your suggestion that nothing would stop Fidel from coming back to power. But point made...
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