No one will be surprised to find that the 76-year-old Raúl Castro is Cuba’s new president, following Sunday’s election by the 614 member national assembly. Even so, by electing the hardline 77-year-old José Ramón Ventura as first vice-president Cuba’s legislators have disappointed hopes that they might turn to a younger - and possibly a bit more flexible - generation of leaders.

The most likely explanation of this decision is that Mr Ventura, who served as doctor to the guerrilla army, is a close and trusted confidante of the younger Mr Castro. Maybe too, more decisive changes in personnel have been out off until the Communist party holds its long-expected congress later this year (where Fidel Castro will incidentally resign his one remaining position of power). In acting so cautiously, Cuba may also be waiting until its arch enemy George W. Bush is safely out of the White House. Even so the appointments will disappoint those inside and outside the Communist party who have been hoping for new faces. None of this is likely to spill over to instability. But there is clearly a danger that popular expectations will be dashed. Change if it does occur will be for the moment at least tortuously slow.