Cuban President Raul Castro reveals retirement plan

Cuban President Raul Castro announced on Sunday (February 24, 2013) that he will step down from power in 2018 following a final five-year term. The 81-year-old leader also said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency. During his years in power, Raul Castro eased some restrictions on personal freedoms by lifting bans on mobile phones and home computers, and abolished the need of citizens to buy expensive exit visas when travelling abroad as tourists. The Communist assembly tapped a 52-year-old rising star, Miguel Diaz-Canel to become his first vice president and first in the line of succession. Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdes, 80, and Gladys Bejerano, 66, the comptroller general, were also re-elected as vice presidents. This comes as Cuba's newly elected 612-member parliament gathered on Sunday. Former President Fidel Castro joined the National Assembly meeting in a rare public appearance. If you want to ask me anything about Castro's retirement plan, please drop a comment here.