Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro has the original name of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) is the President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008. Previously, he served as Prime Minister on his appointment in February 1959 after appearing as a commander of a failed revolution concurrent position of President of the State Council as the Council of Ministers of Fulgencio Batista in 1976. Castro appeared as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (Communist Party of Cuba) in 1965 and transformed Cuba into a one-party socialist republic. After appearing as president, he appeared as a Cuban military commander. On July 31, 2006, Castro handed over his presidential position to his younger brother, Raúl for some time.


In 1947, he participated in the coup attempt dictator Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic and fled to New York (United States) because of the threat will be finished his political opponents. After finishing her doctorate in law in 1950, he protested and led the underground movement of anti-government for the takeover of power in a coup by Fulgencio Batista in 1952. In 1953, he led an assault on the Moncada military barracks of Santiago de Cuba, but failed. A total of 69 people from 111 people who took part in the raid that killed and he was jailed for 15 years.

After obtaining the pardon and was released on May 15, 1955, he led the effort to overthrow the dictator Batista. Resistance was then known by the 26th of July Movement. On July 7, 1955, he fled to Mexico and met with revolutionary fighter Che Guevara. Together with 81 others, he returned to Cuba on December 2, 1956 and conduct guerrilla insurgency for 25 months in the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

Outside Cuba, Castro began to gather strength to resist the domination of the United States and the former Soviet Union countries. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the ideals and dreams began to be realized with met Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia.

By the day of his 80th birthday which falls on August 13, 2006, he handed over the reins of leadership to his brother temporarily. Practical, Raúl concurrently, ie, as President of Cuba and the Cuban defense minister. Submission of this rule is the first time since he ran the country in 1959. Castro also asked the birthday celebration of the 80th was delayed until December 2, 2006. In fact, during the four-day festive feast at Havana's main streets had been prepared, including a magnificent concert of Latin American musicians and singers.

Castro's health had declined after the fall when a speech in 2004. At that time, the left knee and right arm were injured.

After surgery the digestive organs in 2006, the day he handed over power to brother, Raul. He was then only a few times appeared on the tape before claiming to resign in 2008.


On February 19, 2008, five days before the mandate ended, Fidel Castro said he would not nominate himself or accept a new term of office as president or commander of the Cuban armed forces. His position was replaced by his younger brother, Raul Castro.