Miguel Diaz-Canel set to become Cuba's next president

Cuba's National Candidature Commission on Wednesday nominated First Vice President of the Council of State Miguel Diaz-Canel to succeed Raul Castro as president.

Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C) attends a session of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, in Havana, Cuba, April 18, 2018. Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power began a two-day session on Wednesday morning to elect a successor to President Raul Castro.

Diaz-Canel, 57, an electronics engineer, is member of the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and held the chair of first secretary of the PCC in the provinces of Villa Clara and Holguin.

Meanwhile, Cuba also announced candidates for six vice presidents on the Council of State.

Raul Castro (L) and Miguel Diaz-Canel at the National Assembly in Havana

Salvador Valdes Mesa, 72, vice-president on the Council of State and also member of the Politburo, was nominated for new first vice-president.

Cuban President Raul Castro points out as he talks to First Vice President Miguel Diaz Canel while watching May Day march in Havana on May 1, 2016.

The other proposed vice-presidents are commander of the Cuban Revolution Ramiro Valdes, Minister of Public Health Roberto Morales, Comptroller General Gladys Bejerano, President of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources Ines Maria Chapman and Beatriz Jhonson Urrutia.

Lawmakers attending the plenary session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, must vote, in a direct and secret way, to select the 31 members on the Council of State, including the successor to President Castro, who has held the post for a decade.

The results will be announced on Thursday in another parliamentarian session.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)