On 2 December 1976, Fidel Castro formally assumed the presidency of Cuba, succeeding Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado in a transition that consolidated his revolutionary authority.
A pivotal figure since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Castro's rise to the highest office symbolised the entrenchment of communist governance under his leadership.
His presidency marked the commencement of a new era in Cuban politics, aligning the island nation firmly within the Soviet sphere of influence during the Cold War.
As both head of state and government, Castro wielded unparalleled power, shaping Cuba’s domestic and foreign policies for decades to come.
