josé ramón machado ventura, m.d. (born 26 october 1930) is a cuban revolutionary and politician who was the first vice president of the council of state of cuba from 2008 to 2013. raúl castro was elected as the president of cuba on 24 february 2008. machado was elected to succeed him as first vice president. he has been second secretary of the communist party of cuba since 2011.