Cuba’s National Assembly has approved a constitutional amendment eliminating the upper age limit of 60 for presidential candidates, clearing the way for older individuals to contest future elections.
The reform was passed Friday by the Council of State and is set to take effect in the 2028 presidential elections.
While the previous restrictions on presidential terms — two five-year terms — and the minimum age of 35 remain intact, the new provision opens the door to candidates deemed to be “in the full exercise of their physical and mental faculties,” according to National Assembly President Esteban Lazo. He also emphasized the need for “loyalty and revolutionary trajectory” in prospective leaders.
The first to cast a vote in favor of the amendment was 94-year-old former president Raul Castro, who still holds a seat in the assembly. His support signals a continued influence of the old revolutionary guard in shaping Cuba’s political future.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel, now 65, came to power in 2018 and secured re-election in 2023. With no public successor named, the removal of the age limit raises speculation about future leadership, especially as older party figures may now seek office once again.
The original age and term limits were introduced in the 2019 constitution, a notable departure from the extended rule of Fidel and Raul Castro, who led Cuba for over six decades. Raul took over from Fidel in 2008 and stepped down as Communist Party leader in 2021.
The reform comes at a time of deep economic turmoil in Cuba. The island nation is grappling with widespread shortages, prolonged blackouts, and a historic wave of emigration — the worst crisis in over 30 years.
Leave a comment