At the time, Castro stated he would stay on as leader of the Communist Party until 2021. He was now retiring, Castro said yesterday, with "the satisfaction of having fulfilled the mission and confident in the future of the fatherland." Although Díaz-Canel has adopted the slogan of "continuity" there is mounting pressure on Cuba's new leadership to adopt bold new initiatives to reduce state-centric control of the economy and remove restrictions on private sector initiative. After Fidel Castro fell ill with diverticulitis in July 2006, he ceded his duties as president of the country and first secretary of the party to his younger brother. Raúl Castro officially assumed the title of president in 2008 and of first secretary of the party in 2011.