A day after Cuban election, Cubans went about their business on Friday, confident of the new government's capacity to lead the nation.

In Havana and other parts of the Caribbean island, the atmosphere was tranquil and calm, and talk often turned to the topic of Raul Castro handing over the presidency to his successor Miguel Diaz-Canel.

"They have to make way for younger people who have the energy to do everything," said Raul Gomez, 60, as he sat down to read the newspaper at the intersection of 23rd and 12th streets in Havana.

Just a few meters from where Gomez sat, revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in 1961 proclaimed the socialist character of the Cuban revolution.

Gomez, a retired pediatrician, believes Diaz Canel's election is a step in the right direction, "the one we need right now."

Next to Gomez was his fellow doctor and friend Joel Chirino, 40, who expects the new president to do "a good job in spite of the obstacles that we will have to continue facing as a nation."

"We have no other choice but to keep trying," says Chirino, convinced that the new government, whose final appointments will be announced in July, will do everything necessary "for the good of the nation."

Diaz-Canel's election as president on Thursday "was what we expected, at least the revolutionaries who love this country and this flag," said Mirta Alvarez, owner of a small coffee shop.

While she considered Diaz-Canel to signal stability in Cuba, Alvarez said she was concerned with global affairs in general, because in international matters, "we do not know what is going to happen tomorrow."

"Look at what they have done to Syria in the blink of an eye," Alvarez said.

Yoan Ramirez, 24, said "Cuba needs a leader like Diaz-Canel, who learned from Fidel and Raul. He is from the same school and has always defended the continuity of the revolution forged by the historic generation."

University professor Urbano Ordonez underscored the importance of a sound economy to political stability.

"If our economy moves forward successfully, it will contribute to the political strength," said Ordonez.

Cuba's new leadership will need to tackle ongoing domestic and foreign challenges, such as continuing the process of reforming the economic model and dealing with the setback in relations with the United States. 

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