Biography

Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz (born 3 June 1931) is the current President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba. The younger brother of former leader Fidel Castro, he is also First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force). On 31 July 2006, Raúl Castro was 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 First Vice President of the Council of State assumes presidential duties upon the illness or death of the president. Raúl Castro became President on 24 February 2008 National Assembly as Fidel Castro had announced his intention not to stand for President again on 19 February 2008. Raúl Castro was also elected First Secretary of the Communist Party at its Sixth Congress on April 19, 2011, after having served as Second Secretary behind his brother for 46 years.