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Miguel Diaz-Canel succeeds Raul Castro as Cuba's President

Miguel Diaz-Canel succeeds Raul Castro as Cuba's President

Canel-Cuba

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Canel secured 603 out of 604 votes in the National Assembly.

Miguel Diaz-Canel was named Cuba's new president on Thursday. Canel succeeds Raul Castro putting an end to a historic six-decade-long Castro-rule over the country.

57-year-old Canel was the only candidate for the presidency and was elected to a five-year term.

Canel secured 603 out of 604 votes in the National Assembly.

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President Raul Castro, 86, stepped down after 10 years in office. His replacement, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is a 57-year-old engineer who embraces technology and appears socially liberal.

Diaz-Canel is a stalwart of the ruling Communist Party and is considered a safe bet to inherit the ideological mantle of Castro and other elderly leaders who helped Fidel Castro topple a US-backed president six decades ago.

(With inputs from agencies)