Elizabeth González Aznar, daughter of the inventor of the anti-anemia drug Trofin, has raised concerns about the newly introduced Law 167 concerning the System for Addressing Complaints and Petitions from Citizens, set to take effect on March 13. In a Facebook post, González Aznar expressed skepticism about the law's effectiveness and criticized the inefficacy of Cuban institutions, sarcastically asking, "Can we then sue the State for being incompetent and inefficient?"
In her post, González Aznar criticized various government entities, including the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN), attributing the scarcity of basic food products to it. She also held the Ministry of Energy and Mines responsible for issues with liquefied gas and electricity supply, and accused the Ministry of Finance and Prices of perpetuating unlivable wages and pensions that fail to meet basic needs.
Furthermore, she lambasted the government's economic "reordering" process, labeling it a disaster that has deepened social inequalities across the island. She accused the National Assembly of failing to represent the Cuban people's interests, highlighting a general decline in living standards, including difficulties in acquiring essential food and medicine.
Law 167: Promises vs. Reality
According to official sources like Radio Rebelde and Cuba.cu, Law 167 aims to formalize the process for handling citizen complaints and requests, establishing clear procedures for their management. Its objectives include training public officials to deal with complaints seriously and efficiently, along with initiating programs to evaluate and improve institutional responses. However, critics such as González Aznar argue that in a context of economic crisis and widespread distrust in institutions, these measures may prove inadequate.
María del Carmen Cedeño, head of the Office of Population Attention at the Presidency, claimed that the law represents "a significant step towards a more responsive and accountable public administration." Nonetheless, Elizabeth González Aznar's public comments reflect growing public frustration and doubt about the government's ability to address social demands effectively.
A History of Public Criticism
González Aznar has previously been vocal against Cuban institutions. In December, she denounced the lack of institutional support for her father, Dr. Raúl González Hernández, the developer of Trofin. She explained that her family had to rely on acts of solidarity to obtain the medication while facing indifference from entities like BioCubaFarma.
That denunciation sparked a wave of support on social media, with thousands of solidarity messages. González Aznar emphasized that she was not afraid of reprisals, considering the institutional neglect of her father after his retirement to be obvious. This backdrop of prior allegations underscores her critical stance and ongoing efforts to highlight shortcomings within the Cuban system.
Understanding the Impact of Law 167 on Cuban Society
What is Law 167 intended to address in Cuba?
Law 167 is designed to institutionalize the process for handling complaints and petitions from the public, aiming to establish clear procedures and improve the responsiveness and accountability of public administration.
Why is Elizabeth González Aznar critical of Law 167?
González Aznar questions the law's effectiveness and criticizes it for potentially being insufficient in the current economic crisis and distrustful environment, doubting the government's ability to address public grievances genuinely.
How has Elizabeth González Aznar's criticism impacted public opinion?
Her criticism has resonated with many Cubans who share similar frustrations with government inefficiency, leading to widespread support on social media and highlighting a broader dissatisfaction with the current system.