Cuba’s longtime leader Fidel Castro turns 81 today but, notwithstanding the midnight fireworks in the Cuban capital Havana, there are no plans of holding official celebrations to mark the occasion as the ailing president continues his slow recovery from surgery.

Unlike the flashy spectacles of the past only a few social and political groups have announced their plans for festivities.

The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who claims to be Castro's political heir, said he would visit his friend and may arrive in the Cuban capital today. Chavez was also present at Castro’s 80th birthday when the Cuban leader "provisionally" yielded power to his brother, Raul, four days after undergoing intestinal surgery.

Fidel Castro has been marginalized since his July 2006 intestinal surgery. Since the operation he hasn’t been seen in public, appearing only in photographs and videos taken during his recovery. Another way of communicating with “los companieros” is the series of articles printed in official newspapers attributed to him.

According to many observers it’s very likely that Castro will never return to leading edge politics.

For more than a month now there have been no pictures of him. The last ones illustrated the fact that he put weight though he was visibly fragile and had a weak voice.

His current condition and whereabouts remain top secret and many believe that the longer he is kept from the public eye, the bigger the chance that this is how the balance of power will remain.