This past Saturday, Cuban writer, linguist, and translator Rodolfo Alpízar expressed his skepticism through sarcasm regarding the rapid approval of 176 economic measures by the Cuban regime. He insisted that the same "boldness and efficiency" should be applied immediately to political changes that the regime has ignored for decades.
In a Facebook post, Alpízar poked fun at how quickly the National Assembly processed the largest package of structural reforms since the Special Period: "Our deputies, who were democratically elected and represent us with dignity, as is well known, managed to read all the measures, analyze them, and ensure they didn't contradict the Constitution. In less than a workday, they approved each one, as every comma was perfectly in place."
Questioning the Speed of Approval
The linguist's sarcasm targeted the speed of the process: the extraordinary session was called with just 48 hours' notice via the State Council's Agreement 599-X/2026, leading to the swift approval of the 176 measures on June 19.
"What efficiency. Now we've truly straightened out the national economy. Brilliant," Alpízar wrote, before posing the key question: "But... what about everything else?"
More Than Economic Adjustments Needed
Alpízar argued that saving the country requires much more than economic tweaks. He called for another extraordinary plenary session to address four specific demands immediately.
The first demand is the enforcement of constitutional articles on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which he described as "dead letters" for the rulers.
Secondly, he called for a presidential decree of total amnesty for all political prisoners. He was clear in his distinction: "No pardon, no release—total amnesty for all political prisoners and their free reintegration into society." According to Prisoners Defenders, by the end of April 2026, Cuba had 1,260 political prisoners, and the regime's pardon in April of that year for 2,010 people included only two political prisoners identified by human rights organizations.
The third demand is the reinstatement of individuals who lost their jobs for criticizing the authorities or the political system.
The fourth and most ambitious demand is a plebiscite with transparency and international oversight, featuring four yes-or-no questions about the government composition, presidency, electoral law, and one-party system. "None of this affects national sovereignty; on the contrary, it reaffirms it because sovereignty resides with the people. I hope they don't keep forgetting this," he concluded.
Analysts Express Doubts Over Reforms
Alpízar's voice joins others who question the real impact of these reforms. Researcher José Raúl Gallego published a critical analysis of the 176 measures, concluding that "none focus on the country's sociopolitical system, leaving the root cause of Cuba's problems untouched." Gallego also warned that opening up to private capital might primarily benefit the ruling elite, replicating the oligarchic model of former Soviet republics. He questioned why the reforms are happening now under Washington's pressure and not when citizens demanded them for decades: "Who's the villain here?"
These reforms come amid Cuba's worst economic crisis in decades. The CEPAL forecasts a 6.5% GDP drop in 2026, following a 3.8% contraction in 2025, while Cubans endure power outages lasting 20 to 40 hours and a chronic shortage of food and medicine. Economist Pedro Monreal warned in May that the GDP could fall by 15% amid persistent inflation and an energy crisis.
On June 13, Alpízar had already addressed a public message to Miguel Díaz-Canel with five political demands under the hashtags #AmnestyNow, #Article56Now, #HomelandWithoutDeathPenalty, #TransparencyNow, and #PlebisciteNow. He concluded his post by stating that his full proposal is "feasible if the government and party truly wish to save the country" and is detailed in an article published in CubaXCuba. "Without asking for the moon and the stars, we have the right to demand from our suddenly so bold and efficient rulers and political leaders that they do not stop, that they continue," he wrote.
FAQs about Cuban Economic Reforms and Political Demands
What are the main criticisms of the Cuban economic reforms?
Critics argue that the reforms do not address the root sociopolitical issues in Cuba and may primarily benefit the ruling elite. They also question the timing, suggesting reforms are being made under external pressure rather than internal demand.
What specific political changes does Rodolfo Alpízar advocate for?
Rodolfo Alpízar calls for enforcing freedom of expression, granting amnesty to political prisoners, reinstating those fired for dissent, and holding a plebiscite on government structure and policies with international oversight.
How is the current economic crisis in Cuba impacting its citizens?
Cubans are facing severe economic hardships, including prolonged power outages and shortages of essential goods like food and medicine, amidst predictions of a significant GDP decline.