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| - Miguel Diaz-Canel was not even born when communists took power in Cuba's 1959 revolution, but now the 60-year-old -- who has been president since 2018 -- represents the new generation as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba. With Raul Castro, the brother of iconic revolutionary hero Fidel, heading off into retirement, Diaz-Canel takes on the key role in the ruling party -- and the top job on the island nation. A graduate in electrical engineering, former professor and enthusiastic tweeter, he's a more modern leader than his predecessors. But that does not mean less radical. In his opening speech as president three years ago, Diaz-Canel vowed to "continue the Cuban revolution." He's been true to his word. Back then, much was made of his preference for bicycle travel, penchant for jeans and passion for the Beatles. The green fatigues of the Castro brothers were gone and for the first time in decades, Cuba was in the hands of a civilian. Previously portrayed as a moderate with a quiet disposition, he has shown a different side to his character since taking power. "We spoke many times," said Harold Cardenas, political analyst and director at online media, La Joven Cuba. When the publication was threatened with closure in 2013, "he came to see us, had his photo taken with us and supported us publically. "We found Diaz-Canel conciliatory, someone who understood technology." His tone has since changed. In December he described independent media as "mercenaries and liars." "The change of generation promises nothing" with regards political plurality since "the quickest way to earn political legitimacy is to show an iron fist," said Cardenas. Although a fan of social media, Diaz-Canel has only given one interview to foreign media: Venezuelan channel Telesur. He usually talks only at public meetings. Deep down "he's a radical," said professor and former Cuban diplomat Carlos Alzugaray. "Almost all his career has been within the party, and not the government. He's in the thick of the political struggle, the ideological struggle." Consequentially, Diaz-Canel uses the internet as "an instrument of propaganda" rather than one of communication. A father of two children from his first marriage, Diaz-Canel is now married to Liz Cuesta, an academic specializing in Cuban culture. He spent three decades climbing to the communist party summit. In 1994, he was appointed the party's provincial secretary in the central province of Villa Clara, where locals were impressed to see him riding his bicycle, portraying a simplicity uncommon among the regime's leaders. In 2003, while serving in the eastern province of Holguin, he joined the select 15-member Political Bureau, an essential step for any aspirant to power. In 2009, Raul Castro -- who had inherited power from his ailing brother Fidel three years earlier -- tapped him to be higher education minister. In March 2012 he acceded to one of the eight vice-presidency positions in the Council of Ministers. And in 2013, he was appointed to the powerful Council of State. Now he's the man tasked with managing Cuba's worst economic crisis in 30 years, exacerbated by the loss of tourism revenue from coronavirus restrictions, and the effects of four years of toughened US sanctions imposed by the Donald Trump administration. ka/bc/bgs
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