The vote comes as Cuba struggles with an economic crisis that has pushed hundreds of thousands out of the country.
Biden administration announced plan to lift Trump-era restrictions related to Cuba in May in bid to re-engage.
Miguel Díaz-Canel becomes head of Communist Party, and retains title of president.
![Cuba's President and newly-elected First Secretary of the Communist Party Miguel Diaz-Canel speaks during the closing session of the 8th Congress of the Communist Party in Havana, Cuba, on April 19, 2021 [Ariel Ley Royero/ACN via Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-04-19T173200Z_1098015844_RC25ZM9EK1UO_RTRMADP_3_CUBA-POLITICS.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
After six decades, Cuba will not have a Castro in an official position of command.
Cuba is now confronting new and dire economic challenges along with historic ones.
![Investors, analysts and Cuban citizens will all be watching this weekend's congress closely — and seeing how many more of the country's so-called 'historic generation' actually depart, as Raul Castro (centre) has. That, experts say, will be crucial to knowing whether economic change is actually in the cards or whether business will continue as usual [File: Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AP19355685980477.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Move marks the first time in 62 years that Cuba will not have a leader that is named Castro.
![Raul Castro led Cuba's army, then succeeded his brother Fidel as president of the country, then first secretary of the Communist Party [File: Alejandro Ernesto/Pool/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2014-01-02T120000Z_505579105_GM1EA120SSZ01_RTRMADP_3_CUBA.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
A hostile Trump administration and crises in Venezuela have left the landmark Obama-era detente hanging in the balance.
The sanctions block Raul Castro and his immediate family from entering the United States, Pompeo says.
The electoral law allows for both a president and a prime minister but bars a multiparty system.
Decades after his brother overthrew Cuba’s US-backed leader, Raul Castro slams Washington for return to confrontation.
Miguel Diaz-Canel’s election marks first time in nearly six decades the Communist country will not be led by a Castro.
A new era dawns for Cuba for the first time in almost 60 years Communist country’s leader is not called Castro.
It will be the first time in nearly six decades that the island country will not be led by a Castro.
It will be the first time in nearly six decades that the island country will not be led by a Castro.
