Leticia Martínez Hernández, the press chief for Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, recently shared a "poetic" piece on Facebook praising the president as a standout leader. Her words paint Díaz-Canel as a heroic figure.
In a flourish of sentimentality, Martínez attempts to portray her boss as invincible, suggesting that he will never be seen "defeated," "disheartened," or "without faith." She insists that even in the face of adversity, he will continue to "stand firm."
Martínez Hernández employs a repetitive structure in her post, asserting that Díaz-Canel will not shy away from accountability. Her declarations include, "You won't see him avoiding responsibilities," "You won't see him hiding," and "You won't see him on his knees."
She contrasts these statements with another series of images, such as "You will see him..." where Díaz-Canel is depicted "on the front lines," "with the people," "facing challenges," and "providing encouragement" even when "the fight seems impossible."
Continuing in this vein, she claims that he will be seen "embracing" and "sharing in misfortune."
The post concludes with an open defense of the revolution and Díaz-Canel's role in leading it. Martínez Hernández writes that the leader will be seen "loving and defending the Revolution he was chosen to lead, bearing the immense weight of its history," closing with the phrase: "You will see him, ultimately, standing firm."
However, the public's perception of Díaz-Canel differs significantly from that of his spokesperson. A common criticism is that he does not experience the same hardships as most Cubans, such as power outages, food shortages, and lack of transportation and medicine. This disconnect, critics argue, is reflected in speeches that seem out of touch with daily realities.
His communication style is often criticized as being rigid and lacking empathy, heavily focused on slogans, calls for "resistance," and technical explanations, yet failing to acknowledge social unrest or assume clear political responsibility.
Moreover, Díaz-Canel frequently attributes the crisis to external factors like the United States, sanctions, and the "blockade," which many Cubans feel dismisses internal failures, poor management, and the absence of structural reforms.
His image was notably impacted by the July 11, 2021 protests, when he called for "combat" in defense of the Revolution, highlighting a division with portions of the populace by prioritizing political control over dialogue with demonstrators.
Understanding the Public Perception of Díaz-Canel
What is the main criticism against Díaz-Canel's leadership?
The main criticism is that Díaz-Canel is perceived as disconnected from the everyday struggles of Cubans, such as facing shortages and outages, and his speeches often seem out of touch with reality.
How do Díaz-Canel's speeches reflect his leadership style?
His speeches are frequently criticized for being rigid, lacking empathy, and focusing on slogans and technical explanations without addressing social unrest or political responsibility.
Why do some Cubans feel that external factors are overemphasized in the crisis?
Many Cubans believe that blaming external factors like U.S. sanctions diminishes the acknowledgment of internal governance failures, poor management, and a lack of necessary reforms.