A Cuban woman living abroad shared a video on Facebook encouraging people to sign the official regime campaign "My Signature for the Homeland." This initiative was launched by Miguel Díaz-Canel on April 19th at Playa Girón during the event marking the 65th anniversary of the victory at the Bay of Pigs, with the goal of collecting millions of signatures by May 1st.
Addressing "Cuban brothers," the woman urged support for the current political system while rejecting any potential change, citing international conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as examples. "We do not want invasion; we do not want a change of system," she asserted.
Moreover, she encouraged Cubans to sign as a demonstration of support for the government, arguing that the majority of the people desire peace and economic improvements "within the revolution."
The video has sparked numerous reactions on social media, with divided opinions, though critical comments towards her stance, especially given her position abroad, are more prevalent.
Many users questioned her disconnect from the harsh realities faced by those on the island. "It's too much pain and hunger for an entire nation," one user commented, while another added, "A nation starving and this person is talking."
Backlash and Criticism
Some users outright rejected the call to sign in support of the government. "Don't sign, the dictatorship only brings misery to the Cuban people," another user remarked.
The most common criticisms highlighted Cuba's severe economic crisis, characterized by food and medicine shortages and increased emigration, questioning the promotion of support for the system without acknowledging these hardships.
Despite Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party of Cuba, presenting the initiative as a grassroots movement, the campaign was actually orchestrated by the Party itself, along with the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Opposition's Stance
The Cuban opposition has strongly condemned the campaign. José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, urged people not to sign: "No signatures in favor of tyranny. With or without signatures, they will fall soon."
On Thursday, musician Manolín "El Médico de la Salsa" posted on Facebook: "Do not save your oppressors," accusing the government of oppressing the people.
The video by the Cuban abroad follows a familiar pattern: residents outside the island publicly defending the regime from capitalist countries, sparking controversy due to the inherent contradiction.
This is not the first time Lucía Céspedes Ocampo has defended the regime. Recently, she was seen shouting "Long live Cuba, long live my president Díaz-Canel" and labeling the exile community "traitors and worms," while using her earnings from Spain to buy rice for elderly people in Cuba, implicitly acknowledging the State's failure to provide basic necessities.
The regime has a history of orchestrating mass signature campaigns to feign popular support. In September 2025, it mobilized schools and workplaces to gather signatures in support of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, a practice critics and analysts label as coercive rather than a genuine expression of the public will.
Questions on Cuban Political Campaigns
What is the purpose of the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign?
The campaign aims to gather millions of signatures by May 1st to demonstrate support for the current Cuban political system and reject any potential changes.
How has the Cuban opposition reacted to the signature campaign?
The Cuban opposition has strongly rejected the campaign, with leaders like José Daniel Ferrer urging citizens not to sign, viewing it as support for tyranny.
Why is the video by the Cuban living abroad controversial?
The video is controversial because it shows a Cuban resident abroad defending the regime from a capitalist country, which many see as hypocritical given the current struggles within Cuba.