Miguel Díaz-Canel nominated to succeed Raúl Castro as President of Cuba

Cuba has nominated First Vice-President Miguel Díaz-Canel as the replacement for President Raúl Castro.

This was announced at a meeting of the Cuban parliament on Wednesday.

The decision ends six decades of Cuban rule by the Castro family. 

That decision is expected to be confirmed by a vote of the legislative body to confirm Mr. Diaz-Canel and the result is to be announced on Thursday.

President Raúl Castro took over as Cuba's president from his ailing brother Fidel in 2006. He is slated to remain in his post of First Secretary of  the Communist Party until 2021.

Analysts say while the new president is likely to deal with day-to-day matters, Mr. Castro will remain a powerful influence and is likely to have the last word on wider policies.