This past Sunday, a heated exchange took place on Cuatro's "En Boca de Todos," featuring Cuban journalist Náyare, who resides in Spain, and Pablo Fernández, spokesperson for Podemos.
During the discussion, Fernández supported Pablo Iglesias's visit to Cuba, attributing the island's humanitarian crisis to the U.S. embargo. Náyare, however, firmly identified the true cause of Cuba's collapse.
"The sole culprit of the humanitarian crisis in Cuba is the dictatorship that's been in power for over 65 years," she asserted. Her statement was met with an immediate rebuttal from Fernández, who declared, "No. I disagree."
The studio audience challenged Fernández directly: "How can you tell a Cuban otherwise? Cubans surely know more about Cuba than Spaniards."
Unwavering, Fernández defended Iglesias's presence as part of the international convoy "Nuestra América," which arrived in Havana with over 20 tons of humanitarian aid and around 630 activists from 33 countries.
"Pablo Iglesias is in Cuba showcasing solidarity with the Cuban people, illustrating the courage and determination needed, like the rest of the convoy, to demand an end to the criminal blockade imposed by the United States," Fernández claimed.
He even went so far as to describe Donald Trump's policies towards Cuba as "a planned genocide."
The controversy surrounding Iglesias erupted prior to this, after the former Podemos leader, following meetings with Cuban Communist Party officials, remarked that while the situation on the island is "admittedly difficult, it's not as portrayed from outside."
These statements, made while he stayed at a five-star hotel, sparked outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad.
Náyare publicly challenged Pablo Iglesias, inviting him to spend a month in her home in Havana. She stipulated just one condition: "do not bring a single euro."
The journalist emphasized that Iglesias would be fortunate not to experience life as the most vulnerable do in the country.
"My parents are Cuban workers and are somewhat privileged because they have two children abroad who support them. Even so, I want Pablo Iglesias to spend a month in my home in Havana and then report back to Spain on what life in Cuba is really like."
This debate unfolds as Cuba faces a severe humanitarian crisis. The island endures prolonged power outages, has gone months without fuel shipments, and its healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse.
The situation worsened after Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, which affected 2.2 million people and further damaged an already dilapidated infrastructure due to decades of mismanagement by the regime.
Podemos, alongside Sumar and Bildu, supports the "Nuestra América" convoy and demands that the government of Pedro Sánchez denounce the U.S. embargo and increase humanitarian aid to Cuba, overlooking the dictatorship's role in the country's downfall.
While international leftist leaders debate from luxury hotels in Havana, the Cuban people await acknowledgment of what Náyare declared unequivocally to all of Spain: 67 years of dictatorship, not the embargo, have led Cuba to this dire state.
Understanding Cuba's Humanitarian Crisis
What is the primary cause of the humanitarian crisis in Cuba?
According to journalist Náyare, the main cause of the humanitarian crisis in Cuba is the dictatorship that has governed for over 65 years, rather than the U.S. embargo.
What was Pablo Iglesias's role in the "Nuestra América" convoy to Cuba?
Pablo Iglesias participated in the "Nuestra América" convoy, which delivered over 20 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba, as a demonstration of solidarity with the Cuban people.
How has Hurricane Melissa affected Cuba?
Hurricane Melissa, which struck in October 2025, impacted 2.2 million people and exacerbated the already crumbling infrastructure due to decades of mismanagement by the regime.