Fidel Castro expected to resign as Cuba party chief

[Judi Lynn]

Fidel Castro expected to resign as Cuba party chief
By Marc Frank

HOLGUIN, Cuba (Reuters) - The Cuban Communist Party has moved forward the election of new leadership to a congress in April where longtime party leader Fidel Castro is expected to step down, sources close to the party said over the weekend.

Castro, 84, previously handed over most of the responsibilities as first secretary but kept the title. His official departure from his last leadership position would be a symbolically important step towards a new era for the island he ruled for 49 years.

President Raul Castro, as second secretary of the Communist Party, is in line to succeed his older brother as its top leader, just as he did when Fidel Castro resigned the presidency in February 2008.

But because there are currently no other Castro family members in leading positions, the second secretary spot likely will be filled by someone without Castro as a last name for the first time since the party was created in 1965.

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