An indirect presidential election was held in Cuba on 24 February 2008, in which the National Assembly of People's Power elected a new President of the Council of State and the members of the Council of State.
It was initially considered uncertain whether the ailing 81-year-old Fidel Castro would be elected for another term as President of the Council of State or acting president Raúl Castro would formally assume the presidency,[1] but on 19 February Fidel Castro said that he would not seek another term because his physical condition would not allow him to properly carry out the duties of the office.
[5] Raúl emphasized that his brother remained "Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution",[5][6] and the National Assembly voted to permit Raúl to consult with Fidel on important issues.
Juan Almeida Bosque, Abelardo Colomé Ibarra, Carlos Lage Dávila, Esteban Lazo Hernández, and Julio Casas Regueiro were elected as Vice-Presidents of the Council of State, all receiving 608 votes except for Lage, who received 609.
José Miyar Barruecos was elected as Secretary of the Council of State with 608 votes.