Cuba to mull term limits at landmark conference

CUBA: Cuba's Communist Party is expected to consider a strategic overhaul at its first National Conference in 50 years next month, including a radical presidential proposal to impose term limits on top leaders.

President Raul Castro has said the gathering, set for January 28, will tackle big social issues.

It will also take on a proposal by Castro, 80, to impose a 10-year term limit on government officials, including the president and party leaders.

Such changes would amount to a mini-revolution in the country where his brother the revolutionary icon Fidel Castro - ruled for almost five decades before handing over power to Raul in 2006.

"In January, the party's National Conference is to be held, so there is no time to rest," the president told the National Assembly on Friday.

He was more direct on August 1, saying: "If we do not change our mentality, we are not going to be able to ride out the changes that are necessary to guarantee" the current system remains in place. AFP