The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba is the highest office within the Communist Party of Cuba. The first secretary is also the President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers, the two highest state offices. Since 1961, the position of first secretary has been synonymous with leader of Cuba. The current first secretary is Raúl Castro, he is ranked first in the Politburo hierarchy and is the brother of Fidel Castro, his predecessor.