Raul Castro announces he will retire in 2018

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, (L), attends the opening session of the National Assembly of the Peoples Power beside his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, and First Vice-President Ramon Machado Ventura, (R), in Havana Feb 24, 2013. Retired Cuban leader Castro made a rare public appearance on Sunday as he took his long-empty seat beside brother Raul Castro at the opening session of the National Assembly, the official National Information Agency reported. Fidel Castro has graced the assembly chambers just once, in 2010, since taking ill in 2006 and ceding power to his brother.[Photo/Agencies]

Raul Castro starts his second term immediately, leaving him free to retire in 2018, aged 86.

Former president Fidel Castro joined the meeting, in a rare public appearance. Since falling ill in 2006 and ceding the presidency to his brother, the elder Castro, 86, has given up official positions except as a deputy in the National Assembly.

Governments, Cuba watchers and Cubans were keenly observing to see if any new, and younger, faces might appear among the Council of State members, in particular its first vice-president and five vice-presidents.

Their hopes were partially fulfilled with Diaz-Canel's ascension. He replaces former first vice-president, Jose Machado Ventura, 82, who will continue on as one of five vice-presidents. Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdes, 80, and Gladys Bejerano, 66, the comptroller general were also re-elected as vice-presidents.

Two other newcomers, Mercedes Acea, 48, first secretary of the Havana communist party, and Salvador Valdes Mesa, 64, head of the official labor federation, also earned vice-presidential slots.

Former vice-president Esteban Lazo, member of the political bureau of the Communist Party, 68, left his post upon being named parliament president on Sunday, replacing Ricardo Alarcon, who served for 20 years.

Six of the Council's top seven members sit on the party's political bureau which is also lead by Castro.

The National Assembly meets for just a few weeks each year and delegates its legislative powers between sessions to the 31-member Council of State, which also functions as the nation's executive through the Council of Ministers it appoints.

Eighty percent of the 612 deputies, who were elected in an uncontested vote Feb 3 and with an average age under 50, were born after the Revolution.