In the documentary 'Cuba After Castro,' Miguel Díaz-Canel once again defended Cuba's electoral system, labeling it as democratic. He asserted that he was chosen through grassroots support and claimed the Cuban model is "more democratic than those in many other parts of the world."
This declaration is part of an in-depth interview Díaz-Canel gave to American journalists. The interview is featured in a documentary directed by Abby Martin and Matthew Belen for BreakThrough News, a left-leaning media organization.
In the footage, Díaz-Canel argued that his presidency could not have been achieved without being elected in a Cuban district: "I wouldn't be talking to you as the country's president if I hadn't been elected in a district of a city in this nation."
Handpicked by Raúl Castro, Díaz-Canel also maintained that indirect parliamentary voting for selecting key positions is not unique to Cuba: "There are other countries, even global powers, that practice this, and no one calls them undemocratic. The challenge with Cuba is that it's a unique case."
According to Díaz-Canel, criticisms of the system are part of a coordinated attack: "The U.S. government's media machinery doesn't want the example of Cuba with this form of democracy. It's not the kind of democracy they want."
What Díaz-Canel did not mention is that in Cuba, candidates are preselected by commissions aligned with the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) before elections, presented on single lists with no real electoral competition or party pluralism.
Díaz-Canel was not elected through a direct popular vote: the National Assembly appointed him president on April 19, 2018, following Raúl Castro's "recommendations," who saw him as a suitable successor to formally represent the regime and ensure "continuity." He was reaffirmed on October 10, 2019, under the new Constitution.
This is not the first time the Cuban leader has made such claims. In June 2025, he told Brazilian journalist Breno Altman that Cuba is not a dictatorship, stating, "Being a single-party state doesn't make us less democratic or participative."
In December 2021, he told the National Assembly that Cuba was "the most democratic country in the world," and in February 2023, he argued that the elections demonstrated the system's "democratic health" because candidate changes only occurred in "one or two municipalities."
Understanding Cuba's Electoral System
How are candidates chosen in Cuba's elections?
Candidates in Cuba are preselected by commissions aligned with the Communist Party of Cuba before they are put to vote, often with no real competition or party pluralism.
Why is Cuba's electoral system criticized?
The Cuban electoral system is criticized for its lack of direct popular vote and genuine political competition, with candidates preselected on single lists without opposition.
What role does Raúl Castro play in Díaz-Canel's presidency?
Raúl Castro handpicked Díaz-Canel as his successor, influencing the National Assembly's appointment of Díaz-Canel as president in 2018.