Fidel Castro Advocates Democracy

Semi-retired Cuban statesman Fidel Castro--who has served in executive leadership positions both dictatorially (charismatic authority) and semi-democratically (rational/legal/institutional authority)--has expounded, in a recent op-ed, on the virtues of the democratic processes occurring throughout the hemisphere.

This statement seems like conspicuous condoning of democracy. Of course, nobody should think that the Cuban democratic system will conform to anyone's idealized expectations (let alone demands) but those of the Cubans. Still, the piece seems quite an overt normative approval of a democratic path.