This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
On December 22, 2019, Cuba marked a significant shift in its government structure with the appointment of Marrero as the country's first prime minister in over 40 years.
The move is part of a broader effort to decentralize power and bring in new leadership, paving the way for the Communist Party to extend its rule on the island.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel presented Marrero's proposal to the National Assembly, which unanimously approved it. The appointment was also endorsed by the Communist Party's political bureau.
Marrero, 56, has a long history of service in the Cuban government, having started his career in 1999 as vice president of the Gaviota Hotel Group. He later became its president and went on to serve as tourism minister from 2004 under Raul Castro's administration.
Former President Raul Castro, the leader of the Communist Party, welcomed Marrero's appointment with a handshake.
"Throughout his career, Marrero has been characterized by his modesty, honesty, work capacity, political sensitivity, and loyalty to the party and the revolution," Diaz-Canel said in a statement.
The position of prime minister was last held by Fidel Castro in 1976, but it was abolished when he transitioned to the presidency.
