2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties

With the 2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, the Cuban presidential powers and duties were passed on from President Fidel Castro to the first vice president, his brother Raúl Castro, following Fidel's operation and recovery from an undisclosed digestive illness believed to be diverticulitis. Although Raúl Castro exercised the duties of president, Fidel Castro retained the title of President of Cuba, formally the President of the Council of State of Cuba, during this period.

The transfer of duties, which was announced on July 31, 2006, was in line with Article 94 of the Cuban Constitution, which states: "In cases of the absence, illness or death of the president of the Council of State, the first vice president assumes the president's duties".

Fidel had been in power since 1959 and President of Cuba since 1976. At the time of his operation in 2006, he was 79 years old. The full details of the illness have yet to be revealed by Cuban officials, which has fueled speculation about the seriousness of his condition.

After a leading Spanish doctor visited Fidel in December 2006 and announced that the Cuban leader was recovering from a digestive problem, Fidel began to make occasional appearances on television, radio and print. According to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who has made a number of visits to Havana during Fidel's recovery period, his Cuban counterpart was "gaining ground" and had resumed "a good part of his duties" by April 2007.Ricardo Alarcón, President of Cuba's National Assembly, stated that Fidel would be fit to run for re-election to the assembly in 2008.

On February 19, 2008 Fidel announced that he would not stand for re-election as President at the next meeting of the National Assembly of People's Power. Raúl was elected President by the National Assembly on February 24, 2008.

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