The post was abolished in 1976. On Saturday December 21, the Cuban National Assembly appointed Manuel Marrero as prime minister, state media reported. Mr. Marrero is not a political novice. At 56, this architect by training, was Minister of Tourism since 2004.
"This proposal was duly approved by the political bureau of the Communist Party"said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, proposing the name of his now head of government to the deputies. The National Assembly, which has two ordinary sessions a year, met Friday and Saturday to implement some of the changes included in the revision of the Constitution, adopted in April, including the reinstatement of the post of head of government.
"What is expected is that the head of state has significant power and that he is assisted by the Prime Minister in the performance of government functions", recently explained Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, the only authorized political group. He will be able to "Appoint or replace officers and officials" of the central state administration and will control the work of the governors of the provinces.
Reallocated ministerial portfolios
Marrero began his career in 1999 as vice president of the powerful Gaviota hotel group, part of the Armed Forces, before taking over the helm a year later. Despite having joined the Communist Party, he is not, unlike many other Cuban leaders, a member of its central committee, or, for the moment, of its highest body, the political bureau.
President Diaz-Canel paid tribute to "Modesty, honesty, ability to work, political sensitivity and loyalty to the party and to the revolution" of the new Prime Minister. He has "Remarkably directed the tourism sector, which constitutes one of the main axes of development of the national economy", he added.
In the year and eight months since Miguel Diaz-Canel came to power, the majority of ministerial portfolios have been reassigned, a sign of a generation change. The previous head of government from the 1959-1976 revolution was Fidel Castro himself.
