CUBA’S parliament has elected Raul Castro president after nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel on Sunday.

After years in Fidel’s charismatic shadow as Cuba’s No. 2 and defense minister, the new president faces massive challenges, including preparing the transition of power to a newer generation and reforming the economy.

“Fidel is irreplaceable; the people will continue his work when he is no longer with us physically, though his ideas always will be here,” Raul, 76, said in his acceptance speech late Sunday.

In the 19 months since he took over as temporary leader, Raul has made some minor adjustments in the economy, but has promised bigger changes to make the government more efficient and economy stronger.

But he has made it clear that solutions to the country’s problems will come “little by little.”

People in the street voiced hopes that the new president would usher in long-sought economic reforms to improve their daily lives.

“This is the best that could have happened to Cuba,” Carlos Muguercia, a 78-year-old craftsman said. “Raul already knows the situation. He knows how to solve problems, in any case the most serious ones.”

Fidel Castro, 81, who led Cuba’s revolution, had temporarily handed his younger brother the reins of power in July 2006 when he was hospitalized for intestinal surgery.

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But Fidel has not been seen in public since, and last Tuesday he made his historic announcement that for health reasons he was standing down as president of the country he had led since 1959.

Shortly after being named president, Raul Castro named General Julio Casas Regueiro to replace him as head of the country’s armed forces.

Casas Regueiro, 72, was also elected to Cuba’s executive council. The newly-sworn president was full of praise for his successor as Cuba’s top military officer.

In a sign that change may take some time though, Raul Castro said he would consult with his brother on major issues. And he vowed to be on guard against Cuba’s powerful northern neighbor the United States.

“We have taken note of the offensive and openly-meddling declarations by the Empire (as Cuba refers to Washington) and some of its closest allies,” he said.

In defiance of U.S.-led calls for democratic change, Fidel Castro this week ruled out any betrayal of the Cuban revolution ahead of Sunday’s vote.

The first to congratulate Raul Castro on becoming president was long-time Cuba ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who denied speculation that his relations with the new leader were more distant than with Fidel.

“Nothing is going to change. We are going to continue to be united. Only in unity can we progress to further victory,” Chavez said.

The 614-member assembly also chose the country’s first vice president, five other vice presidents, a party secretary and the 23 members of the Council of State.

And in a sign the older generation remained in control, Jose Ramon Machado, another “old guard” Cuban leader, was selected for Cuba’s No. 2 spot.

Machado, 77, a former health minister, is a founder of the Communist Party and has been chief of party organization since 1990.

Meanwhile, Carlos Lage, 56, a rising younger-generation leader seen as having a long-shot chance at the presidency, retains his post as one of several vice presidents.

CUBA’S parliament has elected Raul Castro president after nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel on Sunday.

After years in Fidel’s charismatic shadow as Cuba’s No. 2 and defense minister, the new president faces massive challenges, including preparing the transition of power to a newer generation and reforming the economy.

“Fidel is irreplaceable; the people will continue his work when he is no longer with us physically, though his ideas always will be here,” Raul, 76, said in his acceptance speech late Sunday.

In the 19 months since he took over as temporary leader, Raul has made some minor adjustments in the economy, but has promised bigger changes to make the government more efficient and economy stronger.

But he has made it clear that solutions to the country’s problems will come “little by little.”

People in the street voiced hopes that the new president would usher in long-sought economic reforms to improve their daily lives.

“This is the best that could have happened to Cuba,” Carlos Muguercia, a 78-year-old craftsman said. “Raul already knows the situation. He knows how to solve problems, in any case the most serious ones.”

Fidel Castro, 81, who led Cuba’s revolution, had temporarily handed his younger brother the reins of power in July 2006 when he was hospitalized for intestinal surgery.

(Continued on Page 5)

But Fidel has not been seen in public since, and last Tuesday he made his historic announcement that for health reasons he was standing down as president of the country he had led since 1959.

Shortly after being named president, Raul Castro named General Julio Casas Regueiro to replace him as head of the country’s armed forces.

Casas Regueiro, 72, was also elected to Cuba’s executive council. The newly-sworn president was full of praise for his successor as Cuba’s top military officer.

In a sign that change may take some time though, Raul Castro said he would consult with his brother on major issues. And he vowed to be on guard against Cuba’s powerful northern neighbor the United States.

“We have taken note of the offensive and openly-meddling declarations by the Empire (as Cuba refers to Washington) and some of its closest allies,” he said.

In defiance of U.S.-led calls for democratic change, Fidel Castro this week ruled out any betrayal of the Cuban revolution ahead of Sunday’s vote.

The first to congratulate Raul Castro on becoming president was long-time Cuba ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who denied speculation that his relations with the new leader were more distant than with Fidel.

“Nothing is going to change. We are going to continue to be united. Only in unity can we progress to further victory,” Chavez said.

The 614-member assembly also chose the country’s first vice president, five other vice presidents, a party secretary and the 23 members of the Council of State.

And in a sign the older generation remained in control, Jose Ramon Machado, another “old guard” Cuban leader, was selected for Cuba’s No. 2 spot.

Machado, 77, a former health minister, is a founder of the Communist Party and has been chief of party organization since 1990.

Meanwhile, Carlos Lage, 56, a rising younger-generation leader seen as having a long-shot chance at the presidency, retains his post as one of several vice presidents.