HAVANA , Cuba ( CNN ) -- Fidel Castro 's nearly five decades of rule ended Sunday when Cuba 's National Assembly chose his younger brother Raul to be the country 's new president . The lawmakers ' selection , which had been widely expected , came five days after Fidel Castro , 81 , announced his resignation in a letter published in the state-run newspaper Granma . In his address to the National Assembly , the 76-year-old Raul Castro proposed that `` we consult Fidel '' on important decisions . The 614 members of the legislative body passed that motion unanimously . The lawmakers also announced that Jose Ramon Machado , a man of Raul Castro 's generation , had been elected first vice president of the Council of State , despite the expectation of some that the post would go to someone younger . The Council of State acts on behalf of the Assembly -- which meets only twice a year -- when it is not in session . Watch how Fidel Castro will still play a role in Cuba » . Juan Almeida Bosque , Abelardo Colomi Ibarra , Carlos Lage Davila , Esteban Lazo Hernandez and Julio Casas Regueiro were elected as the Council 's other vice presidents , according to Granma . Fidel Castro was not present at the National Assembly meeting . In his letter of resignation published in the newspaper , he cited his `` critical health condition '' and said , `` It would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer . '' The elder Castro underwent intestinal surgery in 2006 , when he transferred some powers to Raul , the country 's longtime defense minister . In his first communication since announcing the announcement , Fidel Castro lashed out Friday at U.S. President Bush in a newspaper column , saying Bush 's idea of change for Cuba would amount to annexation of the island nation . He said that , after his announcement , `` I slept better than ever ... My conscience was clear and I promised myself a vacation . '' Raul Castro , who is shorter , less imposing and less charismatic than his brother , was the architect of the Cuban army and its leader for almost 50 years . As Cuba 's acting president , he has kept a low profile . About six months ago , he began what he called a `` national debate '' on the problems of the country , acknowledging high unemployment and other economic concerns . `` Is there going to be a transition here toward something ? '' Raul Castro once told reporters asking about post-Fidel Cuba . `` Yes , toward a better form of socialism and -- here 's something you 'll like -- toward a more democratic society . '' However , he has said that only the Communist Party can guarantee continuity and , in his address Sunday to the National Assembly , he called the Party the `` the guarantee of the Cuban nation . '' Raul Castro helped his brother plan the uprising that brought about the Cuban revolution , put Fidel Castro in power in 1959 and gave birth to the Western Hemisphere 's first Communist power . The brothers were born in Biran , Cuba , sons of a Spanish immigrant -- a rich landowner -- and a housemaid whom he eventually married . During the early years of the revolution , the younger Castro earned a reputation for being ruthless with his enemies . Grainy black-and-white video shows him making impassioned speeches in the early days of the revolution . Even before his brother announced his retirement , Raul Castro said Fidel would be a hard act to follow . Fidel Castro 's daughter , Alina Fernandez , who lives in Florida , told CNN that Sunday 's events were unlikely to significantly affect the country . She has long opposed her father 's regime . `` I think that the government will remain mostly the same , but I think they are going to bring on different faces that they need , '' she said . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Shasta Darlington contributed to this report .
Raul Castro chosen as president by Biran 's the Communist Party . Fidel Castro 's brother was the leader of Cuba 's military for last week . Raul Castro announced his resignation last week in a letter published online . The 81-year-old has ruled the communist country since at least 50 years .