The powers in Cuba did exactly what they were expected to do, replace one old dictator with a slightly younger dictator.

Cuba’s parliament named Raul Castro president on Sunday, ending nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel but leaving the island’s communist system unshaken.

And as for changes, don’t expect any.

In another sign that major change was not afoot, Raul Castro, 76, proposed he would consult with the ailing 81-year-old Fidel on all major decisions of state, and parliament approved the proposal.

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In a surprise move, an old guard revolutionary leader was named No. 2. Jose Ramon Machado, who fought alongside the Castro brothers in the Sierra Maestra during the late 1950s, was named to the slot that Raul Castro had previously held. He is 77.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke out for change, however unlikely it is to come.

“We urge the Cuban government to begin a process of peaceful, democratic change by releasing all political prisoners, respecting human rights, and creating a clear pathway towards free and fair elections,” Rice said in a statement.

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“The Cuban people, facing the legacy of five decades of tyranny, merit our solidarity and support as they seek to construct a brighter future.”