Communist leader Fidel Castro has resigned as Cuba’s president early Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power. Castro made the announcement in a letter published in online official media that he would not accept a new term when the newly elected parliament meets on Sunday. The eighty-one year old’s younger brother Raul will officially succeed him as president.

“I will not aspire nor accept - I repeat I will not aspire or accept - the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief,” read the letter signed by Castro.

“My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath. That’s all I can offer,” Castro wrote. But, he continued, “it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer. This I say devoid of all drama.”

Castro said Cuban officials had wanted him to remain in power after his surgery. “It was an uncomfortable situation for me vis-a-vis an adversary that had done everything possible to get rid of me, and I felt reluctant to comply.”