On This Day In History…February 24th, 2008

An indirect presidential election was held in Cuba on February 24th, 2008, in which the National Assembly elected a new President of Cuba  and the members of the Council of State .

It was initially considered uncertain whether the ailing 81-year-old Fidel Castro would be elected for another term as President of the Council of State or acting president Raúl Castro would formally assume the presidency, but on 19 February Fidel Castro said that he would not seek another term because his physical condition would not allow him to properly carry out the duties of the office.

Raúl Castro, aged 76, was elected as President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers by a unanimous vote of the National Assembly (on a ballot with only his name for the position) on 24 February 2008.