Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez once again expressed his support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, despite calls from the opposition and the international community to present the electoral records from the contested election where Maduro was declared the winner. "We stand, without a doubt, with the brotherly Venezuelan people and our comrade, Nicolás Maduro," stated the Cuban-appointed leader during a virtual address at the ALBA-TCP Summit held this Monday.
In his speech, recorded at the Palace of the Revolution, Díaz-Canel mentioned that he "trusts that with such strength, the homeland of Bolívar, Chávez, and Maduro will continue to show it is impervious to all threats and harassment." The Cuban regime was among the first to recognize Maduro's proclamation as President of Venezuela following the elections on July 28, a contest accused of irregularities which the Chavista government has failed to dispel.
Blaming External Forces
Aligning with a rhetoric of support for his continental ally, Díaz-Canel once again blamed "regional oligarchies, imperialism, media conglomerates, and digital platforms" for the situation in Venezuela, echoing Maduro’s claims of "coup intentions" among these actors, without proving that he "won" the elections unequivocally.
"With absolute irresponsibility, there is a concerted effort to revive destabilization plans in Venezuela. We cannot allow it," stated the Cuban leader, who appeared with his arm in a sling. In a show of significant cynicism, Díaz-Canel assured that he "recognizes and admires the calm response, high institutional democratic sense, and peace vocation shown by President Nicolás Maduro and his team." These words ignore the struggle by dissatisfied popular sectors with the election results, who have been harassed, repressed, and imprisoned by the ruling regime in Venezuela.
Without the slightest sense of responsibility, he expressed that "the will of the majority must be respected. The Venezuelan people voted with full awareness in favor of dignity, their sovereignty, and for peace." This show of support is not the first expressed by the appointee of Raúl Castro leading the Cuban government. Two days after the fraud perpetrated by his "friend" Maduro, he called the opposition in Venezuela "turncoat guarimberos" and enemies of Our America.
His message, published on the social network X, garnered thousands of interactions and numerous responses, with some people accusing him of being a "dictator supporting another dictator." On other occasions, Cubans have criticized these shows of support for a questioned electoral process. One person wrote that while Díaz-Canel pats the Venezuelan on the back, in Cuba "people are eating from trash cans; there are 20-hour blackouts; there is no fuel, and the entire island is a prison."
Questions and Answers about Díaz-Canel's Support for Maduro
Below are some common questions and answers regarding Díaz-Canel's recent statements of support for Nicolás Maduro and the Venezuelan electoral situation.
Why does Díaz-Canel support Nicolás Maduro?
Díaz-Canel supports Nicolás Maduro as part of a longstanding alliance between Cuba and Venezuela, both of which share socialist ideologies and mutual political interests.
What are the international reactions to the Venezuelan elections?
The international community, including various governments and organizations, has widely condemned the Venezuelan elections, citing irregularities and lack of transparency.
How have the Cuban people responded to Díaz-Canel's support for Maduro?
Many Cubans have criticized Díaz-Canel's support for Maduro, especially given the severe economic and social issues currently facing Cuba.