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Castro's Exit Won't Change Much For Cuba

Cuba's new president-elect, Miguel Díaz-Canel, isn't likely to break dramatically from his predecessor, Raúl Castro.

By: Matt Picht

Posted at 5:21 PM, Apr 18, 2018

and last updated 2018-04-18 17:21:38-04

Cuba's leader Raúl Castro might be stepping down from office, but don't expect much to change on the island nation right away.

Castro's chosen successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has served as Castro's vice president since 2013. He's unlikely to break dramatically with the country's communist leadership.

But Díaz-Canel is taking the reins at a time of transition for Cuba. Castro's effort to modestly reform the country's system is still in progress.

Efforts to build up the private sector in Cuba's economy have had mixed success. The country has become more friendly for foreign investors and small businesses — but things like agriculture and property rights are still tightly state-controlled.

Castro's attempts to break diplomatic ground with the U.S. under President Obama have been largely reversed after President Trump took office.

And whatever else might be changing in Cuba, the country still doesn't seem close to becoming a true democracy. Díaz-Canel was the only name on the ballot lawmakers cast to elect the next president.