MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cuban cabinet surprise reshuffle leaves out top figures

Pte. Raul Castro is moving his own people into power

In a surprise move Cuban radio and television announced Monday a cabinet restructuring which included the removal of some of its most visible and political top officials, including Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe P?rez Roque.

Lage will be replaced by military General Jos? Amado Ricardo Guerra, while deputy Foreign Affairs minister Bruno Rodr?guez will assume P?rez Roque's post, according to the announcement read on Cuban television as part of the midday newscast. The reshuffling involves as many as 10 government posts, including Economy Minister Jos? Luis Rodr?guez. The announcement was from Cuba's Council of State, the supreme governing body. Lage, 57, was one of five vice presidents below President Ra?l Castro and had served as a de-facto prime minister. He was credited with helping save Cuba's economy by designing modest economic reforms after the Soviet Union collapsed twenty years ago. P?rez Roque, 43, was previously personal secretary to Fidel Castro and a former leader of the Communist Party youth organization. He had been Foreign Affairs minister for almost a decade. The official release points out that the changes take place in "consonance" (coincidence) with Ra?l Castro's first year as president (February 24th) and his promises to reduce and restructure government. The reshuffle involves eleven ministries and the fusion of four into two and the exit of on one of the twelve vice-presidents from the cabinet. "We are freeing comrade Felipe Perez Roque from his responsibilities as Foreign Affairs minister and promoting the current Deputy Minister, Bruno Rodr?guez Parrilla to the post", said the release. Economy minister Jose Luis Rodriguez, also a cabinet vice-president, will be replaced by Marino Murillo, currently Home Trade minister. Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment ministries are consolidated under Rodrigo Malmierca and Food industry and Fisheries come under an only ministry headed by Maria Concepcion Gonzalez, former member of the party's secretariat.