Havana, April 18 (RHC)-- Miguel Diaz Canel has been nominated as the next president of the Council of State of Cuba.

In making the announcement during the opening session of the just sworn-in Cuban parliament, Gisela Duarte, president of the National Candidacy Commission, said that Salvador Valdez Mesa was being proposed to become the first Vice president.

Further commenting on the proposals, Duarte explained that the commission had gone over each newly elected deputy regarding which legislators they considered for inclusion in the slate.

She added that proposed membership of the State Council includes the top figures of the island’s mass and youth organizations, as well as high ranking officials from the economic, social and cultural sectors, taking into consideration the need to preserve the continuity of leadership while renewing its membership.

President Raul Castro, as he reiterated on several occasion, is stepping down after 10 years in office.

The 604 assembly members had been sworn in earlier on Wednesday - a 605th was absent.

The result of the votes for president and vice presidents and other national leaders is expected to be officially announced Thursday, April 19. The date coincides with the 57th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban people over the US-backed invasion of mercenary forces in 1961.