Cuban President Raul Castro Reaches 81

HAVANA TIMES — Cuban President Raul Castro had his 81st birthday on Sunday amid official media silence, reported dpa news. His brother and chief advisor, Fidel Castro, will reach 86 in August.

Raul Castro was officially named president in 2008 after taking over for his ailing brother in July 2006.

He governs with a style quite different from his brother, preferring few public engagements and making relatively short speeches, compared to the frequent marathon addresses by Fidel.

Raul is currently trying to kick start the depressed Cuban economy with an economic “updating” plan approved by the Communist Party.

A more pragmatic leader than his brother, Raul has made the fight against corruption a cornerstone of his efforts to get the country on a renovated track, and numerous top officials and state business people have been removed and some jailed for different types of corruption.