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| Fidel Castro complains of ill health during rare interview | Fidel Castro complains of ill health during rare interview |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Retired Cuban president Fidel Castro has complained of a bad knee, weak eyesight and difficulty adjusting to changes in light during a lengthy interview with state-run media. | Retired Cuban president Fidel Castro has complained of a bad knee, weak eyesight and difficulty adjusting to changes in light during a lengthy interview with state-run media. |
| The 86-year-old revolutionary leader also praised election officials for building a new entrance to his polling site, eliminating the need for him to climb stairs, which he indicated had been difficult since a fall in 2004. | The 86-year-old revolutionary leader also praised election officials for building a new entrance to his polling site, eliminating the need for him to climb stairs, which he indicated had been difficult since a fall in 2004. |
| "I asked various people who work with me the number of steps and the height of the stairway at the entrance," Castro said in an informal discussion with journalists on 3 February, the day he cast a ballot in a legislative election. "My shattered knee ... has taken its toll," he added. | "I asked various people who work with me the number of steps and the height of the stairway at the entrance," Castro said in an informal discussion with journalists on 3 February, the day he cast a ballot in a legislative election. "My shattered knee ... has taken its toll," he added. |
| Castro is rarely seen in public, and more rarely still speaks publicly about domestic politics. While his appearance at the voting station had been reported earlier, the majority of his comments had not. | Castro is rarely seen in public, and more rarely still speaks publicly about domestic politics. While his appearance at the voting station had been reported earlier, the majority of his comments had not. |
| Tuesday's edition of the Communist party newspaper, Granma, transcribes the entire encounter over five pages, and reports that the transcript has been "revised and updated by the interviewee".Castro lauds the economic changes being carried out under the leadership of his 81-year-old brother, Raúl, who has been president since 2006, saying the state has "a duty to bring itself up to date". | Tuesday's edition of the Communist party newspaper, Granma, transcribes the entire encounter over five pages, and reports that the transcript has been "revised and updated by the interviewee".Castro lauds the economic changes being carried out under the leadership of his 81-year-old brother, Raúl, who has been president since 2006, saying the state has "a duty to bring itself up to date". |
| He also applauds the Cuban people for electing more women than men to the 612-seat National Assembly. | He also applauds the Cuban people for electing more women than men to the 612-seat National Assembly. |
| In Cuban elections, there is only one candidate for each seat, and no suspense over who will win. Voters' only choice is whether to approve of them or not, and most candidates receive well over 90%. | In Cuban elections, there is only one candidate for each seat, and no suspense over who will win. Voters' only choice is whether to approve of them or not, and most candidates receive well over 90%. |
| Castro also speaks passionately about his ailing ally and friend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who is being treated for cancer at a Cuban hospital and has not been seen in public for more than two months. | Castro also speaks passionately about his ailing ally and friend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who is being treated for cancer at a Cuban hospital and has not been seen in public for more than two months. |
| "When Chávez was in full (political) combat, he neglected his health and he dedicated himself to the fight," he said. | "When Chávez was in full (political) combat, he neglected his health and he dedicated himself to the fight," he said. |
| As for his own health, Castro acknowledges having difficulty reading the small print in Granma and on his television screen, adding that "changes in light bother my eyes". | As for his own health, Castro acknowledges having difficulty reading the small print in Granma and on his television screen, adding that "changes in light bother my eyes". |
| Mirrroring the broad-ranging style of his past, Castro's comments stretch from the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the colonisation of Mars; to the 1794 execution of Robespierre during the French Revolution to environmental threats facing the world today. | Mirrroring the broad-ranging style of his past, Castro's comments stretch from the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the colonisation of Mars; to the 1794 execution of Robespierre during the French Revolution to environmental threats facing the world today. |
| Perhaps betraying his age, he questions journalists about their recording equipment and marvels at a smartphone one used to record the interview. | Perhaps betraying his age, he questions journalists about their recording equipment and marvels at a smartphone one used to record the interview. |
| "What's that apparatus?" Castro asks. | "What's that apparatus?" Castro asks. |
| "It's a telephone that also functions as a recorder, Comandante," the journalist, Amaury del Valle, replies. | "It's a telephone that also functions as a recorder, Comandante," the journalist, Amaury del Valle, replies. |
| "Oh really?" says Castro. "I have to use a lot of gadgets of that kind but people help me." | "Oh really?" says Castro. "I have to use a lot of gadgets of that kind but people help me." |
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