President Raul Castro was named First Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party

President Raul Castro was named first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party on 19 April 2011. Raul Castro's name was read out by a party official who announced the members of the party's Central Committee at the closing ceremony of the Sixth Communist Party Congress. His brother Fidel Castro was however not included in the leadership for the first time since the party's creation 46 years ago.

Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz was born on 3 June 1931 and is currently the President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba. Raul Castro is also First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force).

Raúl Castro became the President of the Council of State in a temporary transfer of power due to Fidel Castro's illness. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, Article 94, the First Vice President of the Council of State assumes presidential duties upon the illness or death of the president. Raúl Castro was elected President at the 24 February 2008 National Assembly as Fidel Castro had announced his intention not to stand for President again on 19 February 2008.

Raul Castro announced that Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, an 80-year-old long-time confidante, would be his No. 2 while Ramiro Valdes, a 78-year-old Vice-President, was named to the No. 3 spot. Several younger people were added to the 15-member leadership group but in lesser positions.