Fidel Castro becomes prime minister

On his first foreign visit after victory, Castro thanked Venezuelans for solidarity with the Cuban struggle.

Guevara described the armed movement’s commitments to agrarian reform, sovereignty and transformation beyond a change of rulers.

The revolutionary government adopted a Fundamental Law based partly on the 1940 Constitution while concentrating legislative authority in the Council of Ministers.

Under the Fundamental Law, the Council of Ministers combined executive and lawmaking powers during the provisional period.

Disagreement over authority within the new government led the provisional prime minister to resign.

The revolutionary government ordered lower telephone charges, confronting a major foreign-owned utility over the cost of public services.

The government took control of the foreign-owned utility and lowered rates, presenting public services as a social right.

A law substantially lowered many rents, one of the government’s early measures to redistribute income toward tenants.

The Cuban prime minister travelled to explain the revolution and seek economic understanding without requesting formal state honours.

During his United States tour, he defended Cuban sovereignty and argued that social reform was necessary for democracy.