Ron Ridenour: Leadership
Posted by: "Ron Ridenour" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:10 am (PDT)
Leadership
By Ron Ridenour
[June 18, 2006. 20th in series]
After nearly half-a-century, why is Fidel Castro still the President of the
Council of State, in effect, the president and state minister of the
Republic of Cuba-the allegedly oldest "dictator" in the world?
As Fidel's 80th birthday approaches, and as his brother Raul turned 75, the
mass media once again speculates on whom would take over the reigns of
power once the "maximum leader" dies or suffers some debilitating disease.
In his 2004 film, "Looking for Fidel", Oliver Stone asked the same
question. Paraphrasing: Why don't you step down after so many years
and let the younger generation take over like Nelson Mandel did?
Paraphrasing Fidel: The people have the power. I am a spiritual leader. I
have been training youth for 50 years. My actual powers are limited. I don't
appoint ministers or ambassadors. I have as much power as I do because
of my long experience. I am an activist, who puts ideas into practice.
Fidel explained that his removal is precisely what Cuba's enemies have been
seeking since the first year of the revolution. In fact, he said, they have
made 734 murder plans against him and scores of them have been put into
action.
I am not willing to step down just to please Bush. Why should I help him? I
am ready to die with my boots on, working. If you could prove that it would
be best for our country, I'd step aside. If I had that impression, I'd step
down.
Paraphrasing Stone: If you died suddenly, it would lead to chaos, it would
rock the boat.
"There are many possible commanders-in-chief."
Who might they be? And how would one come to power?
The Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, adopted in 1976 and amended
in 1992 and 2002, provides, in Chapter ten, article 94, that the first
vice-president assumes the duties of the President of the Council of
State, "in cases of [his/her] absence, illness or death."
That would place Raul Castro in charge. He is the first vice-president
and minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Raul also runs much of
the Communist party's daily affairs.
The National Assembly of People's Power (parliament) is the legislative
organ. Its 601 deputies are elected at electoral districts for five years.
There are up to eight candidates in each district. The elections do not
permit political parties to participate nor can they nominate candidates.
The parliament elects the highest executive body, the Council of State.
Its 31 members then decide on its executive committee, which includes
the president, secretary, first vice-president and five vice-presidents. The
parliament has unanimously elected Fidel to the Council of State, and
the Council has elected Fidel Castro its president since 1976.
The Council of State is responsible to the parliament, which holds two
regular annual sessions. Between sessions, the Council runs the
government. It proposes laws to the assembly and issues decrees
between sessions, all to be approved at the next parliament meeting.
While most pundits of Cuban politics assert that Raul is the next in line
to be president that would only be the case if the conditions of article 94
existed. A normal transfer of power requires a national election of
parliament, which then decides on the next Council of State's membership.
Raul is, however, one of four possible candidates often discussed, who could
replace Fidel as head of state in a normal transition. Raul is respected for
his good moral conduct. He has a long proven record as a keen manager.
He has guided the defence of the country during nearly half a century,
specifically responsible for the nation's defence strategy-war of all the
people-in which one-forth the people are militia members.
Many foreign security experts believe that Raul might be the best option for
stability in the period before normal elections. On the other hand, he is
old and not universally popular. He lacks Fidel's charisma and diplomatic
acumen.
If Raul were president, there would be no significant political or economic
shift from the present course. He made that clear in a June 14 speech:
"Only the Communist party-as the institution that brings together the
revolutionary vanguard and will always guarantee the unity of Cubans-can be
the worthy heir of the trust deposited by the people in their leader."
History, as wrote Georgij Plekhanov-Russian Marxist theoretician, who died
in 1918-provides, on rare occasions, an exceptional and unreplaceable
leader. I maintain that Fidel is one such.
That belief encompasses the strong feeling that Fidel is Cuba. As the
distinguished Uruguayan writer, Eduardo Galeano, wrote in the "New York
Times, May 17, 1992: "Fidel (is) a symbol of national dignity. For Latin
Americans, now completing five centuries of humiliation, he is a deeply
affecting symbol."
Fidel is the practical symbol of unity in face of divide-and-conquer Yankee
politicians, their military and counter-intelligence forces. And that
feeling expresses a sense not of doom but of fear for what the Yankees might
do, and an uncertainty about whether the next leader can handle what will
come.
Other possibilities for president include: Vice-President Carlos Lage,
Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcón, and Foreign Minister Pérez Roque.
Lage, born in 1951, was educated as a physician of pediatrics. Since early
Special Period times, he has been architect of the economic reforms and
their implementation, including tourism. The tourism industry produced a
two-tiered society, those with international convertible currency and those
without, and tempted some junior officials and other employees to engage in
corruption.
That left a spoiled mark on the architect, and Raul Castro took control of
tourism. Lage, once thought as a possible successor to Fidel, is no longer a
realistic option.
Ricardo Alarcón, born in 1937, is one of the most popular, erudite and
sagacious leaders. He graduated from the University of Havana with a
doctorate in philosophy. Alarcón has had a long diplomatic career since
the beginning of the revolution. He represented Cuba in the United Nations
and in the foreign ministry, where he was minister before becoming
president of the national assembly in 1993. While Alarcón would be an
embraceable leader he is thought to be too old.
That leaves the youngest bet, Roque. He was born in 1965, and
graduated with an electrical engineering degree. Roque is fiery and
quick, and popular too. He took over the ministry post, in 1999, from
another young and popular leader, Roberto Robaina.
Robaina was elected foreign minister in 1993. At 37, he was the
youngest foreign minister ever.
In 2002, he was expelled from the Communist party for disloyalty,
ego-centricism, and for unauthorisedly receiving money from Mario
Villanueva, accused of drug trafficking. Robaina is now working in an
urban environmental project in Havana.
Others are mentioned, such as the cultural minister, Abiel Prieto,
but Raul Castro and Felipe Roque are the most likely candidates.
For now, and the foreseeable future, Fidel Castro will remain president.
No matter who takes over the reins of power after Fidel, there will be a
period of national sorrow and of confusion. Most Cubans I ask, what
after Fidel, reply: "Ni de pensar"-don't even think about it.
I conclude with the sentiments of one of my critical thinking friends,
Maya, a university professor in English literature.
"I admire and respect Fidel tremendously. I don't envy the poor man.
Leading this country is the most difficult task in the world today-all
these tumultuous world transformations and consequent pressure on us.
And, as a people, we are much too hedonistic, garrulous, undisciplined,
and too informal to manage rationally. I certainly can't imagine any
imbecile from Miami or anyone outside Cuba coming here to `lead´ us.
"Everybody talks about what after Fidel. Raul is second in line, but he is
not popular. Maybe they'd come up with a council of leaders. But I don't see
any need for another president today. Fidel is not sick and he IS the best."
Maya told me this in 1992, in another era of "what after Fidel". Fourteen
years later, this is still her view.
***
Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com
UNESCO Literacy Prize Goes to Cuba
Paris, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has awarded the Latin American and Caribbean
Pedagogic Institute of Cuba (IPLAC) the King Sejong Literacy Prize, for
fostering a literacy program to help other nations.
Cuban Ambassador to UNESCO Hector Hernandez Pardo stated the award is
in recognition of a special Cuban project to collaborate with other
countries.
Hernandez Pardo said the jury considered the program very innovating,
flexible and fit for a wide range of geographic, cultural and ethnic
zones, where it has been efficient in social, rural and urban areas.
A prominent international jury made up by experts from the US,
Ecuador, South Korea, China, Senegal and Syria selected the IPLAC to
receive the award.
UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura said the prize recognized
the Cuban method "Yo si puedo" (I Can Do it), which has been
successfully used in 15 world states.
Hernandez Pardo described the prize as an international recognition to
Cuban education, the people who created the Yo si puedo program,
Cuba´s solidarity to every nation in need and President Fidel Castro,
who has relentlessly spearheaded projects to help humankind.
Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco and Rajastan, the poorest state of India,
also received the King Sejon prize.
hr/ecq/Lma
***
Friday, June 23 at 7:30 pm -
A Matter of Opinion (Picador)
Emeritus Publisher of The Nation Magazine, and once a publisher of the New
York Times Magazine, Navasky is a hero of the magazine journalism world. A
Matter of Opinion is Navasky's reflection on more than twenty years in the
liberal news media.
Skylight Books
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