For the first time in more than 40 years, the president of Cuba is not a member of the Castro family; but while it is a president with a new name it will not necessarily be a new agenda.
Former First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel was officially sworn in as president of Cuba after decades of a Castro filling the role. The transition is part of an effort to move younger leaders in the Communist Party up the political ladder to maintain the party's power. While Castro is no longer president, he is still seen as the head of the communist party. Dr. Rob Waters, an Associate Professor of History at Ohio Northern University, believes that until Raúl Castro is gone for good, things will pretty much stay the same.
"I think it's a minor change of titles," says Waters. "Ever since Fidel had to step down 10 years ago there's been slow transition and so it's a step in that movement but until Raúl's gone, no, it's not gonna be a big thing."
Waters says that the muted reaction he's seen from Cuba's citizens tell him that they also believe it will be more of the same agenda.
