In a move that was expected for some time now, Fidel Castro has now formally issued a letter of resignation to the Cuban people.

Some interesting excerpts from his letter:

For many years I have occupied the honorable position of President. On February 15, 1976 the Socialist Constitution was approved with the free, direct and secret vote of over 95% of the people with the right to cast a vote.

Thus, my first duty was to prepare our people both politically and psychologically for my absence after so many years of struggle. I kept saying that my recovery “was not without risks.”

To my dearest compatriots, who have recently honored me so much by electing me a member of the Parliament where so many agreements should be adopted of utmost importance to the destiny of our Revolution, I am saying that I will neither aspire to nor accept, I repeat, I will neither aspire to nor accept the positions of President of the State Council and Commander in Chief.

Those are just a few highlights, and there is definitely more to the letter worth reading. This is one of those historical things that I think everyone should read in its fullest context and then analyze later.

I hope to get back to this in the next day or two and see what impact this has in Cuba.

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