Cuba re-elects Castro as president

President Fidel Castro, the world’s longest ruling head of government, was today elected by parliament to a sixth term as Cuba’s leader.

The National Assembly unanimously chose Castro after re-electing parliamentary leaders.

Castro, 76, now in power for 44 years, holds the title of President of the Council of State, the communist-run island’s supreme governing body. The sole presidential candidate wore a dark suit and tie rather than his typical olive green military uniform for the election.

In January, more than 97% of Cuba’s voters elected Castro and the rest of the 609 candidates who ran uncontested for parliament, including Juan Miguel Gonzalez, the father of Elian Gonzalez, the boy at the centre of the 2000 international child custody battle.

The National Assembly generally meets two or three times a year for several days to approve laws the Council of State proposes.