Carlos Lage Dávila
Encyclopedia
Carlos Lage Dávila is a Cuba
n politician. Until 2009, he was a Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba
, a member of the Politburo
of the Communist Party of Cuba
, and Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cuba
. Lage was described as Cuba's de facto
prime minister.
Lage trained as a pediatrician before entering the Cuban government. In the early 1990s Lage became an adviser to Fidel Castro
, gaining a reputation as Cuba's "primary economic fixer". Lage was responsible for coordinating energy, trade and currency issues. Lage is also credited with Cuba's national Energy Revolution program and the collaboration with other countries in this area. In the early 1990s, during the economic era known in Cuba as the Special Period
he initiated a series of economic reforms that allowed for limited land holdings and small business initiatives. More recently, Lage negotiated a guaranteed supply of subsidized oil from Venezuela
, in exchange for medicines and up to 2,000 Cuban doctors
and health professionals to live in Venezuela for a time and treat that country's poor. The scheme incorporates the Venezuelan Mission Barrio Adentro
welfare program.
He is also known as an academic expert on U.S. history and politics. Thus he is also an advisor to the president of Cuba (until recently Fidel Castro) on this topic. An avid reader in political theory, he is known to be an expert in comparative politics and democratic studies and he is a strong advocate of the Cuban political system. Internationally he is known for having conversations with European leaders.
With the retirement of President Fidel Castro in early 2008, Lage was mentioned by experts as a possible successor to Castro if the Cuban regime decided to go with a younger leader rather than Fidel's brother, Raúl Castro
. On 24 February 2008, Raúl Castro was elected President
; Lage was unanimously re-elected to his old post as one of the Vice Presidents of the Council of State.
On 2 March 2009 Raul Castro's government removed Lage from his position as Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers as part of a substantial cabinet reshuffle. Fidel Castro then criticized him (without naming him) for being influenced by the "honey of power" in a statement on 3 March, and Lage announced his resignation from all his party and state positions—membership on the Communist Party's Central Committee and Political Bureau, membership on the Council of State, and his role as a parliamentary deputy—in a letter published on 5 March. In that letter, he also accepted Castro's criticism and agreed that he had committed errors.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n politician. Until 2009, he was a Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba
Council of State of Cuba
The Council of State of Cuba is a 31-member body of the government of Cuba, elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power. It has the authority to exercise most legislative power between sessions of the National Assembly of People’s Power, subject to its approval, and to call the National...
, a member of the Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
, and Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cuba
Council of Ministers of Cuba
The Cabinet of Cuba is the highest ranking executive and administrative body of the Republic of Cuba, and constitutes the nation's government...
. Lage was described as Cuba's de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
prime minister.
Lage trained as a pediatrician before entering the Cuban government. In the early 1990s Lage became an adviser to Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, gaining a reputation as Cuba's "primary economic fixer". Lage was responsible for coordinating energy, trade and currency issues. Lage is also credited with Cuba's national Energy Revolution program and the collaboration with other countries in this area. In the early 1990s, during the economic era known in Cuba as the Special Period
Special Period
The Special Period in Time of Peace in Cuba was an extended period of economic crisis that began in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and, by extension, the Comecon. The economic depression of the Special Period was at its most severe in the early-to-mid 1990s before slightly declining...
he initiated a series of economic reforms that allowed for limited land holdings and small business initiatives. More recently, Lage negotiated a guaranteed supply of subsidized oil from Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, in exchange for medicines and up to 2,000 Cuban doctors
Healthcare of Cuba
The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens. There are no private hospitals or clinics as all health services are government-run. The present Minister for Public Health is José Ramón Balaguer.An...
and health professionals to live in Venezuela for a time and treat that country's poor. The scheme incorporates the Venezuelan Mission Barrio Adentro
Mission Barrio Adentro
Mission Barrio Adentro is a Bolivarian national social welfare program established under current Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. The program seeks to provide comprehensive publicly-funded health care, dental care, and sports training to poor and marginalized communities in Venezuela...
welfare program.
He is also known as an academic expert on U.S. history and politics. Thus he is also an advisor to the president of Cuba (until recently Fidel Castro) on this topic. An avid reader in political theory, he is known to be an expert in comparative politics and democratic studies and he is a strong advocate of the Cuban political system. Internationally he is known for having conversations with European leaders.
With the retirement of President Fidel Castro in early 2008, Lage was mentioned by experts as a possible successor to Castro if the Cuban regime decided to go with a younger leader rather than Fidel's brother, Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
. On 24 February 2008, Raúl Castro was elected President
Cuban presidential election, 2008
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 Cuba and the members of the Council of State. The election followed the January 2008 parliamentary election...
; Lage was unanimously re-elected to his old post as one of the Vice Presidents of the Council of State.
On 2 March 2009 Raul Castro's government removed Lage from his position as Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers as part of a substantial cabinet reshuffle. Fidel Castro then criticized him (without naming him) for being influenced by the "honey of power" in a statement on 3 March, and Lage announced his resignation from all his party and state positions—membership on the Communist Party's Central Committee and Political Bureau, membership on the Council of State, and his role as a parliamentary deputy—in a letter published on 5 March. In that letter, he also accepted Castro's criticism and agreed that he had committed errors.