Cuba to name first prime minister in 40 years

Cuba is to resurrect position of prime minister in a parliamentary session at end of week, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel minating a candidate to post which has remained dormant for more than 40 years. last time Cuba had a prime minister, it was revolutionary hero Fidel Castro. However, position was abolished in 1976 when Castro transitioned to presidency, taking over from Osvaldo Dorticos after country's constitution was restructured.

one kws yet who will be appointed, and general public is in dark as to what role will even entail.

"I don't kw what his functions will be, I imagine that he'll be helping that poor Diaz-Canel who never stops, going here and re trying to sort out country," said Maria Fernandez, a 65-year-old pensioner.

Parliament will meet on Friday and Saturday before appointing prime minister based on a proposal by Diaz-Canel.

new office will become "head of government" for a five-year term.

Diaz-Canel's mination must n receive an absolute majority in a National Assembly vote, according to country's new constitution, which was approved in April.

appointment will also have to be ratified by omnipotent Communist Party led by former president Raul Castro.

Fidel Castro was a unique prime minister "given weight of his persona," said Cuban professor Arturo Lopez-Levy of Holy Names University in California.

"Ultimate power in country was in Fidel's" hands during his time as prime minister from 1959-76, even though Dorticos was president and head of state, Lopez-Levy said.

appointment of a prime minister may signify a separation of powers but Lopez-Levy insisted that in Cuba it represents more of a "separation of functions" given communist concept of political unity and fact that country is a one-party state.

State bulletin Granma said Diaz-Canel will "assist prime minister" in running government.

Under parameters established by constitution, candidate must come from 605-member National Assembly, be at least 35, "be a Cuban citizen by birth and hold or nationality".

premier will be able to hire and fire state employees and will have overall control of provincial goverrs, ar position restored under new constitution.

Predicting who will be picked from a transitional Cuban government is tricky. Diaz-Canel could choose from any one of five vice presidents as well as his ministers.

In Diaz-Canel's approximately 20 months as president, he's replaced a large part of his cabinet -- only three remain from Raul Castro's presidency: Armed Forces Minister Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Interior Minister Julio Cesar Gandarilla, and Secretary of Council of Ministers Jose Amado Guerra.

If prime minister is chosen from among vice presidents, Lopez-Levy said Jorge Luis Tapia, 55, a former regional first secretary of Communist Party, was his prediction.

"I'd pick Jorge Luis Tapia for his ecomic and experience profile," Lopez-Levy said.

"In any case, I think you need to look furr afield to National Assembly."

As well as designating a prime minister, parliament must also ratify or approve 26 members of cabinet.