Via the BBC: Castro says Cuban system to stay
Cuban President Raul Castro says he is willing to enter into dialogue with the US but the island’s communist system remains non-negotiable.Mr Castro said he wanted to respond to recent overtures by Washington.
But in a speech that was given a standing ovation in parliament, he also emphasised that he had not been elected to return Cuba to capitalism.
One suspects that any dialogue that takes place will not be about the nature of Cuba’s government. Of course, the likelihood is that more open relations with the US will lead to liberalization of Cuba’s economy. Further, one has to wonder as to the permanence of the Cuban system of the moment, as one figures that a some point they are going to run out of Castros to govern.
In regards to the quote cited in the post’s title, I have little doubt that Raúl was selected to maintain the current system, but I think being Fidel’s brother and a veteran of the revolution might have had something to do with it. I don’t recall a big debate over the direction of Cuban at the time of Raúl’s “election.”
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