Miguel Díaz-Canel Publicly Addresses Alejandro Gil Case for the First Time

In a striking public statement, Miguel Díaz-Canel has finally addressed the downfall of former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of espionage, bribery, and corruption.

Framing his remarks with ideological undertones, Díaz-Canel leaned on the rhetoric of Fidel Castro, aiming more to discipline the governing elite than to provide clarity to the Cuban populace.

At the XI Plenary Session of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee, Díaz-Canel used Gil as a prime example of what he termed as a betrayal of the Revolution. Rather than providing evidence or legal documentation, he employed the orthodox rhetoric reminiscent of Castro's era.

"I was remembering Fidel these days, and I quote: 'The enemy is well aware of human weaknesses in their search for spies and traitors, but they ignore the other side of the coin: the immense capacity for conscious sacrifice and heroism in people,'" he stated in his address.

Díaz-Canel’s speech served as a warning, shifting away from the technocratic language he once championed—where Gil played a pivotal role—back to the epic tone of ideological struggle, drawing stark lines between patriots and traitors.

Historical Context and Ideological Symbolism

The speech included a reference to a passage from the 1960 Metallurgical Congress by Fidel Castro, highlighting the Revolution's inherent ability to unmask impostors:

"A revolution teaches us who serves and who does not; [...] who is made of selfishness, ambition, disloyalty, treason, or cowardice," he reiterated, using Castro's words to tighten the narrative around Gil.

Díaz-Canel added further reflections from the same speech, emphasizing the moral value of dedication to the revolutionary cause: "It shows us who has the courage to sacrifice for the people, and who merely wants to exploit them; who is with the cause, and who is self-serving," and continued, "Those who are not even fit to die for the homeland are not fit to live off it either."

Before naming Gil explicitly, Díaz-Canel set a general accusatory tone: "There are those who profit from needs and shortages, who obstruct progress, and others who would sell out the nation that once elevated them to the highest ranks."

This was the prelude to directly naming the former minister, marking his first explicit mention since Gil's removal from office in February 2024.

"I don't believe there are more accurate words to describe Alejandro Gil's conduct, from whose disgraceful case we must learn valuable lessons, making it clear, first and foremost, that the Revolution has zero tolerance for such behaviors," he concluded.

The Sealed Fate of Alejandro Gil

Díaz-Canel’s choice of words, such as "disgraceful case," underscored the moral condemnation enveloped in revolutionary epic, leaving no room for doubt or nuance.

Once a close ally and doctoral thesis advisor to Gil, Díaz-Canel did not hold back in his criticism, labeling him a "traitor," "sellout," "selfish," "ambitious," and "disloyal." The fall from grace was as steep as the loyalty that once seemed to bind them.

The conviction against Gil Fernández was announced on December 8, but the trial was held behind closed doors, without media presence, visible defense, or procedural transparency.

Official reports cite life imprisonment for espionage, bribery, document theft, and violation of classified information regulations. However, the evidence remains undisclosed, and the case file is sealed, prompting independent media and international observers to question the legitimacy of the process.

Political Maneuvering and Distraction

Rather than an act of justice, the case is seen as an exemplary purge, serving as a warning to state cadres and a distraction amid a severe economic crisis marked by daily blackouts, rampant inflation, food shortages, and growing social unrest.

In this scenario, the internal enemy plays a political role: consolidating power through punishment, reaffirming authority without acknowledging mistakes, and diverting public attention to a fabricated traitor.

From Economic Star to Official Traitor

The shift in narrative has been drastic. Alejandro Gil, once one of the most visible faces of Cuba's economic power, led the so-called "structural transformations" of the system, attended international forums, and was portrayed as a controlled reformist.

Now, the regime erases him from the archives of the useful and inscribes him in the list of traitors. Díaz-Canel's speech at the XI Plenary makes it clear that in official Cuba, falls are absolute, and the narrative is rewritten at the whim of power.

Fidel's legacy, evoked as doctrine, serves not only to condemn but to shield the system against self-criticism. In this logic, as Castro said, the small altars collapse, but not those of the system: those of individuals like Gil, who were used until the last moment... and then sacrificed without possible appeal.