Accessibility links
Castro's Health and Cuba's Future The announcement that Fidel Castro will officially leave the office of Cuba's presidency comes after months of illness and a partial transfer of power to his brother, Raul. Now, many questions focus on the political future of the island nation.
Special Series

Castro's Health and Cuba's Future

Fidel Castro's move to leave the office of Cuba's presidency comes after months of illness.

A Closer Look at Raul Castro

Cuba's National Assembly has chosen Raul Castro to take over as president from his brother Fidel. Brian Latell, who has written a biography of Raul Castro, talks about what to expect from the transition.

A Closer Look at Raul Castro

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19320151/19320138" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Castro's Brother Picked as Cuba's President

Cuba's National Assembly chose Fidel Castro's brother Raul to take his place on Sunday, days after Fidel Castro announced he would retire following almost 50 years in power. Washington Post reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia in Havana discusses the developments.

Castro's Brother Picked as Cuba's President

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19320146/19320137" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

Cuban Exile Ponders Life After Castro

Cuban-American playwright Eduardo Machado shares the range of emotions he went through this week upon hearing Cuban President Fidel Castro was stepping down after nearly a half century in power.

Cuban Exile Ponders Life After Castro

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19308764/19308750" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Will Castro's Resignation Bring a More Democratic Cuba?

Nearly 50 years after seizing power, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro resigned his post as the country's president. Many are hoping for reforms under Fidel's brother, Raul — Cuba's acting president.

Will Castro's Resignation Bring a More Democratic Cuba?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19199454/19199449" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

Death Won't Kill Castro's Influence in Cuba

Fidel Castro is leaving on his own terms. He is bequeathing Cuba to his brother Raul, and he won't give his enemies the satisfaction of dying without resolving the succession. Commentator Andrei Codrescu says Raul lacks charisma.

Death Won't Kill Castro's Influence in Cuba

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19174591/19174596" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Castro Resignation Paves Way for Change in Cuba

Fidel Castro says he will not continue as president of Cuba, opening the way for his brother or someone younger to consolidate power when parliament appoints a new president next weekend. The announcement was made early Tuesday.

Tom Gjelten reports on 'All Things Considered'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19174540/19174525" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Cuban-Americans in Miami Expect Little to Change

Miami's Cuban-Americans reacted with a big "been there, done that" Tuesday with the news that Fidel Castro is stepping down as the communist island's president. There were no widespread celebrations, like those that met the news in 2006 that Castro was sick and had handed power to his brother. Many exiles feel little will change anytime soon.

Cuban-Americans in Miami Expect Little to Change

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19174546/19174527" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Dissidents: Cuba's Priority Is Economics, Not Politics

Two Cuban dissidents in Havana talk about Fidel Castro's resignation and what it might mean for the future of Cuba. Both say Castro's resignation was expected by the public, and that it provides an opening for some changes. But, they say, economic changes are more important to the Cuban government than political changes.

Cuban dissidents Oscar Espinosa Chepe and Miriam Leiva: Political, economic implications

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19174543/19174526" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Era Coming to an End in Cuba

Fidel Castro announced his resignation overnight in a letter online. The news won't be a shock to many Cubans, who are used to the idea that he is about to retire. The dictator has been sidelined due to illness for the past 18 months. The BBC's Cuba correspondent, Michael Voss, talks about the news.

Era Coming to an End in Cuba

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19157819/19157765" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Castro Resigns as Cuba's President

After nearly 50 years as president of Cuba, Fidel Castro is resigning. He explained his decision in a letter to the Web site of the Communist Party's newspaper. The Cuban president hasn't been seen in public since he became ill and provisionally turned over his powers to his brother, Raul, in July 2006.

Castro Resigns as Cuba's President

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19157770/19157750" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Secret Poll: Cubans Unhappy with Government

A new opinion poll conducted by the International Republican Institute has found a high level of discontent with Fidel Castro's regime. The unusual survey was conducted in secret, through casual conversations initiated by pollsters who never revealed their true mission.

Secret Poll: Cubans Unhappy with Government

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/16451377/16451328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Castro's 'Reflections' Printed by State-Run Press

Since abdominal surgery forced Fidel Castro to retire from public life, he has emerged as editorial writer-in-chief in Cuba's state-run news media. The long-winded speaker is now a prolific writer, using the state-run press — the only press permitted on the island — to publish a series of so-called "reflections."

Castro's 'Reflections' Printed by State-Run Press

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15567260/15567217" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Analysts Predict Castro Will Never Return to Power

Fidel Castro did not appear at the delayed birthday celebration held in his honor earlier this month. Castro handed over power to his brother Raul last summer after announcing that he was ill with an unexplained intestinal complaint. Many analysts have come to believe that Castro is probably not coming back.

Analysts Predict Castro Will Never Return to Power

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6605078/6605079" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org