Cuba Removes Age Limit for Presidential Candidates Ahead of 2028 Elections
Cuba has eliminated the maximum age limit of 60 for presidential candidates, a major constitutional change approved by parliament on Friday.
The reform will apply from the 2028 elections onward, while the two-term limit and minimum age requirement of 35 remain unchanged.
The updated provision allows any candidate “in the full exercise of their physical and mental faculties” with a proven record of loyalty and revolutionary service to contest for the presidency, according to National Assembly President Esteban Lazo.
Former president Raúl Castro, now 94 and still a member of the National Assembly, was the first to vote in favor of the change. The move effectively reverses one of the key reforms of the 2019 constitution, which for the first time in decades imposed both term and age limits for Cuban leaders.
That constitution had been seen as a step away from the long-standing tradition of lifetime leadership that characterized the Castro era.
Current President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who turned 65 this year, was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023.
No clear successor has been named, and the removal of the age cap could allow for a broader range of candidates, including older party stalwarts, to enter the race in 2028.
The decision comes at a time when Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in more than 30 years.
The island nation of nearly 10 million people is grappling with severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, rolling blackouts, and a historic wave of emigration.
These economic hardships have led to growing discontent among the population and increased pressure on the government to enact reforms.
The leadership shift also reflects ongoing efforts by Cuba’s Communist Party to maintain control while adapting to a rapidly changing political and social landscape.
Whether the age-limit removal will widen the field of potential candidates or reinforce the influence of established figures remains to be seen.
