Three Cuban municipal governors left their jobs this week in an unusual succession of departures that has disrupted local power structures as the US-blockaded island suffers a deep economic crisis.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel approved “the removal from office” of the three governors, according to the news site Cubadebate.
In Cuba, the president nominates gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates, who are then elected by councilors for a five-year term. Resignations are rare.
The governors in the eastern municipalities of Guantanamo and Las Tunas stepped down for “health problems” and “family and personal limitations” respectively, the pro-government media outlet wrote.
The central Camaguey municipality’s governor stepped down following “errors committed in the performance of his duties,” the official newspaper Granma reported on Tuesday.
Since January, Washington has launched a devastating set of new sanctions and an oil blockade against Cuba, crippling the island nation’s economy and leading to widespread blackouts and shortages of necessities.
US President Donald Trump has hinted at launching a military intervention to overthrow the island’s Communist ruling party, and last month the US Secretary of State urged Cubans to work with American intelligence services.
