古巴纪念菲德尔·卡斯特罗去世一周年

Cuba marks the first anniversary of the death of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Saturday followed by municipal elections on Sunday that will usher in a new leader who for the first time in 60 years will not be a Castro brother.

The island will hold a series of remembrances from Saturday through December 4, the day Castro was laid to rest in a cemetery in Santiago de Cuba, where he had launched the Cuban revolution.

Fidel Castro’s death last year on November 25 ushered in a nine days of national mourning. The Cold War icon, who defied U.S. efforts to topple him, died at the age of 90.

By the time he died, Castro had already been largely out of public view for nearly a decade because of ill health. He ceded the presidency to his younger brother, Raul Castro, in 2008 after intestinal troubles nearly killed him in 2006.

State-run media report that galas and vigils will be held around the country this week in honor of Fidel Castro. State television is running archived footage of Fidel Castro and cultural institutions are dedicating their performances to his memory.

During the weeklong events, citizens will also take part in municipal elections. The vote will end with the selection of a new president in late February, after Raul Castro said he would step down at the end of his two consecutive five-year terms.

The transition to new leadership, however, is expected to be gradual as Raul Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba.

古巴星期六纪念其革命领袖卡斯特罗去世一周年后，星期天开始举行市政选举。古巴60年来将第一次出现一位不是卡斯特罗家族的领导人。

古巴将在星期六到12月4号期间举行一系列纪念活动。卡斯特罗去年12月4号在他当年发动古巴革命的圣地亚哥市的一座墓地下葬。

菲德尔·卡斯特罗去年11月25号去世后，古巴全国哀悼9天。美国曾试图推翻卡斯特罗政权。卡斯特罗这位冷战的代表人物终年90岁。

卡斯特罗在去世前的十年期间由于身体患病很少公开露面。他2006年险些死于内脏疾病，2008年把总统职位交给他的弟弟劳尔·卡斯特罗。

古巴国家媒体报道，古巴全国这个星期将举行纪念卡斯特罗的集会和其它活动。国家电视台播放卡斯特罗的纪录片，文化团体上演纪念卡斯特罗的节目。

古巴公民还将在下星期参加市政选举。选举结果最终将于明年2月底确定一位新总统。劳尔·卡斯特罗说，他在担任了5年为期的两任总统之后将不再连任。

预计权力过渡将逐渐完成。劳尔·卡斯特罗将继续担任古巴共产党主席。共产党是古巴唯一的合法政党。