Cuba's Communist Party struggles with aging

Havana - Economic reforms were approved by the just-closed Cuban Communist Party Congress, but veteran party leaders were chosen to oversee them.

Unsurprisingly, Raul Castro, 79, was elected 1st Secretary of the Party, replacing his brother Fidel in that post. As his second, the Congress chose 80-year old Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, who is Cuba's 1st Vice President.

The big surprise of the morning was an appearance by Fidel Castro, who, leaning on the arm of an aide, walked onto the stage for the closing session of the Congress taking his seat in a chair that had stood empty at every important meeting of the leadership since he fell ill in 2006.

Deafening applause and tears of joy greeted his arrival, as Congress delegates rose en masse.

His presence underlined the reality that this was most likely the last Party Congress to be attended by the historic leaders of the Revolution, who are now all in their late 70s and 80s.

The number 3 post was filled by Ramiro Valdes, 78, and a Vice President.

Continuity was also evident in Raul Castro's speech that made clear the economic reforms approved by the Congress did not represent any change in the island's clinging to a socialist system.

"As for me, I assume my last task with the firm conviction and commitment to honor what the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba has as his principle mission and meaning of his life to defend, preserve and protect the perfecting of socialism, and never allow the return of the capitalist regime," he said.

Only three new members were elected to the 15 member Political Bureau and only one woman will sit on it: Mercedes Lopez, Party chief in the City of Havana.

Marino Murillo, ex-minister of the economy and now appointed czar to oversee implementation of economic reforms, was also elected to that body.

Five generals remain members.

Raul Castro has stressed that the Party has only taken the first step toward renewing its leadership with younger people and that the lack of a reserve ready to step in is the result of the organization's mistakes and failure to prepare the replacements for its aging leadership.

In his closing speech this morning, Raul Castro drew applause when he said, "Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, founder and Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, gave us the first consequent example in this field by asking not to be included in the list of candidates for the Central Committee."

"Fidel is Fidel," he said interrupted repeatedly by applauses, "and does not need any post to always occupy the peak position in history, in the present and in the future of the Cuban nation."

As Raul spoke and the delegates cheered, Fidel continued to take copious notes as he had done through his brother's 30-minute speech.

"As long as he has the strength to do so, fortunately he is in complete (control) of his political thinking, from his modest condition as a member of the Party and solider of ideas, he will continue to support the revolutionary struggle and the most noble positions of Humanity," Raul concluded.

In an online blog posted this morning, Fidel Castro wrote about discussing with Raul the need to put more women and blacks on the Central Committee. He notes that Raul spoke about some current members who because of their age or health could no longer contribute much, but for whom removal from the Committee would be a hard blow. Fidel says he suggested to Raul that these people be kept on. Clearly his advice was taken.