Raúl Castro
| Raúl Castro | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| President of Cuba | |
|
Assumed office 24 February 2008 Acting: 31 July 2006 – 24 February 2008 |
|
| Prime Minister | Himself (as President of the Council of Ministers) |
| Vice President |
José Ramón Machado (2008–2013) Miguel Díaz-Canel (2013–present) |
| Preceded by | Fidel Castro |
| First Secretary of the Communist Party | |
|
Assumed office 19 April 2011 Acting: 31 July 2006 – 19 April 2011 |
|
| Deputy | José Ramón Machado |
| Preceded by | Fidel Castro |
| First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers of Cuba | |
|
In office 2 December 1976 – 24 February 2008 |
|
| President | Fidel Castro |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | José Ramón Machado |
| Second Secretary of the Communist Party | |
|
In office 3 October 1965 – 19 April 2011 |
|
| Leader | Fidel Castro |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | José Ramón Machado |
| Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces | |
|
In office 16 February 1959 – 24 February 2008 |
|
| Prime Minister | Fidel Castro |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Julio Casas Regueiro |
| Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement | |
|
In office 24 February 2008 – 16 July 2009 Acting: 31 July 2006 – 24 February 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Fidel Castro |
| Succeeded by | Hosni Mubarak |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz 3 June 1931 Birán, Cuba |
| Political party |
Popular Socialist Party (before 1953) 26th of July Movement (1953–65) Communist Party (1965–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Vilma Espín (m. 1959; d. 2007) |
| Children | Deborah Mariela Nilsa Alejandro |
| Alma mater | None |
| Awards |
Hero of the Republic of Cuba Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise National Order of Mali Quetzal Medal Order Prince Daniel of Good Faith First Degree |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Cuba
|
| Service/branch | Revolutionary Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1953–59 |
| Rank |
 Comandante |
| Unit | 26th of July Movement |
| Battles/wars | Cuban Revolution |
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz (American Spanish: [raˈul moˈðesto ˈkastɾo ˈrus]; born 3 June 1931) is a Cuban politician, who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008. Castro previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008. Castro is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force), and has also been First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) since 2011. Castro is the nation's highest ranking general.
Raúl Castro was a rebel commander during the 1950s. After his brother Fidel Castro took power, Raúl Castro was one of the most important figures in the party, serving as Minister of the Armed Forces for 49 years, from 1959 to 2008 making him the longest serving minister of the armed forces
On 31 July 2006, Raúl Castro was designated the President of the Council of State in a temporary transfer of power, due to Fidel Castro's illness. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, Article 94, the Vice President of the Council of State assumes presidential duties upon the illness or death of the President. Raúl Castro was officially made President by the National Assembly on 24 February 2008, after Fidel Castro, who was still ailing, announced he would not stand for President again on 19 February 2008. Raúl Castro became First Secretary of the Communist Party at its Sixth Congress on 19 April 2011, having previously served as Second Secretary under his brother for 46 years.
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