Following a televised appearance by Miguel Díaz-Canel, touted as a live dialogue with the press, Cuban broadcaster Laritza Camacho took to social media with a barrage of critical remarks that sparked widespread reactions. Her comments came amid a backdrop of power outages, connectivity issues, and skepticism about the actual transparency of the event.
In an early post, Camacho satirically summarized the presidential intervention: "News Summary: We're going to squeeze them more. The lemon is finished!" Her reference to the "lemon" harks back to Díaz-Canel's 2020 remark during a Council of Ministers meeting where he stated, "lemonade is the foundation of everything." At the time, these words were met with ridicule, criticism, and memes among the Cuban populace.
Camacho's post drew dozens of comments from users who agreed that the speech offered no fresh announcements or tangible solutions, suggesting that the country's woes would continue to demand greater sacrifices from its people.
Later on, Camacho revisited the issue, questioning the conditions under which the broadcast was aired. In another post, she remarked, "That speech went down in history... it was scheduled for 10 am, and at that time, all circuits shut down. People lost electricity and connection immediately. It must be very sad to speak into the void from the void. The speech was announced live, but we'll find out what it said, by replay."
This comment aligned with numerous complaints from Cubans who reported being unable to watch the broadcast due to blackouts and connectivity issues in various parts of the country.
In a third post, Camacho humorously criticized the format of the event and the controlled nature of the questions posed to Díaz-Canel: "And with just one question, they could have solved everything: – Can you tell me the time, Mr. President?" This remark spread amidst the controversy that ensued after a clock visible during the appearance displayed a different time than officially announced.
Subsequently, in a more detailed post, the broadcaster employed satire to depict the material and social decay of the nation. She imagined how "future archaeologists" might struggle to explain a Cuba where remnants of modernity coexist with conditions from another era, concluding with a phrase that encapsulates her analysis: "Poor confused archaeologists in the future! Poor us living in the present!"
On social media, the speech was largely dismissed as "more of the same," offering no concrete announcements or solutions to the issues plaguing daily life. Alongside complaints about shortages, blackouts, and information access challenges, there were intellectual critiques questioning the government's continued demands for new sacrifices in an already exhausted country. For many users, the appearance not only highlighted the disconnect between the government's message and everyday reality but also reinforced the sense of social fatigue and lack of a credible path out of Cuba's crisis.
Insights into Cuba's Current Challenges
Why was Laritza Camacho critical of Díaz-Canel's appearance?
Camacho criticized Díaz-Canel's appearance due to the lack of new solutions presented, the controlled nature of the event, and the technical issues that prevented many Cubans from watching it live.
What was the significance of the "lemon" reference in Camacho's post?
The "lemon" reference alludes to Díaz-Canel's 2020 statement that "lemonade is the foundation of everything," which became a point of ridicule among Cubans as it symbolized the government's inability to offer substantive solutions.
How did the Cuban public react to Díaz-Canel's televised appearance?
The Cuban public largely viewed the appearance as lacking in new information or solutions, with many expressing frustration over ongoing power outages and connectivity issues that affected their ability to engage with the content.