Is communism over for Cuba?

Published: 04/12/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)
Is communism over for Cuba?
Gulf News

With Fidel Castro not attending either his 80th birthday celebrations or
the anniversary of the revolution that started 50 years ago, it sent
diplomats into a flurry of speculation as to exactly how ill he is.

For so long has Fidel's name been synonymous with Cuba that the mainly
young population has never known of anyone else as leader. So with his
illness keeping him out of the limelight for more than five months, talk
is now of who will take over from Fidel. Many talk of Raul, his younger
brother who is defence minister and now acting president in the absence
of Fidel. But others believe that once the "old regime" has gone, it
will give way to another revolution of sorts, one that will allow a
government that is more sympathetic to Western ideals.

As one of a very few remaining bastions of communism, though, it is
difficult to believe that Cubans will suddenly and wholeheartedly
embrace capitalism.

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