Michel E. Torres Corona, the host of the state-run program "Con Filo" and a prominent spokesperson for the Cuban regime on social media, recently published an article on Alma Plus TV titled "Is Socialism in Cuba Over?" In this piece, he optimistically asserts that socialism in Cuba is "more alive than ever," despite the daily struggles faced by ordinary Cubans, who endure endless blackouts and struggle to afford basic necessities like a carton of eggs.
This article was released shortly after the Cuban government approved, with unprecedented speed and without public consultation, 176 economic measures. These include the introduction of private banking, the transformation of state enterprises into joint-stock companies, and the granting of surface rights for up to 99 years.
Torres Corona, with a candor that might prove risky, acknowledges that these changes "are unlikely to strengthen the socialist transition." He admits, "We communists have faced a defeat in Cuba: the reformists have won this round, infiltrating the state's physical space and, worse yet, the minds of those in authority."
Yet, he reassures, socialism remains intact. According to Torres Corona, it endures.
The Rapid Approval of Economic Reforms
The process for approving these reforms was, as Torres Corona describes, "astonishingly swift." On June 12, Miguel Díaz-Canel announced them in a surprise address. By June 17, the Central Committee of the Communist Party had endorsed them without publishing any details, and the National Assembly unanimously passed them in a single extraordinary session, prefaced by a letter of support from Raúl Castro. A showcase of socialist democracy at its finest.
Torres Corona further acknowledges that all this occurred "without public debate and without allowing citizens, not even Party members, to point out drawbacks or suggest changes." In a country that held a referendum for the Family Code, these profound transformations—the most significant since the Special Period—were decided in an afternoon. Revolutionary efficiency at work.
Borrowing from Historical Figures
To justify this shift, the official discourse invoked Martí, Fidel, and Lenin. Torres Corona critiques these references, suggesting that citing Martí is a "pragmatic reductionism that has little to do with Martian altruism," and he draws on academic references from researchers like Marlene Vázquez.
He also recalls Fidel's 2005 proclamation: "The empire dreamed that many more private restaurants would be established in Cuba, but perhaps none will remain; or do they think we've turned neoliberal? None of us have become neoliberal." Yet today, private banking is among the 176 standout measures. Times indeed have changed.
The Reality of Cuba's Economic Hardship
The author admits these transformations "will not alleviate the harsh conditions in which most of the Cuban people currently survive, with prolonged blackouts and food shortages." Prominent Cuban economist Pedro Monreal has warned of a potential 15% contraction in Cuba's GDP by 2026. Medicine availability is only about 50% of what is needed, and the new minimum wage of 3,210 pesos falls short of affording a carton of eggs, priced between 3,000 and 4,000 pesos.
On social media, Cubans responded with the bluntness that hunger brings: "Print them out and use the measures for food and light," one user suggested. Another summarized the package as "the same dog with a different collar." While Torres Corona philosophizes about Gramsci, Trotsky, and Lenin's NEP, the island continues to sink into the crisis that this supposedly "more alive than ever" socialism has produced.
Criticism of Media and Reforms
Prior to this article, Torres Corona had subtly criticized NTV for announcing Ramiro Valdés' death after the electrical report, hinting that the reforms might signify "the end of the process" built by that generation. He concludes his piece with a statement about socialism that encapsulates the regime's ideological gymnastics: "Who can deny that today it is more alive than ever? It won't be easy... but it will be."
The United States labeled the 176 measures as "smoke signals" and continued imposing sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the regime. In this regard, Washington and ordinary Cubans seem to be on the same page.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Political Changes
What are the recent economic measures approved in Cuba?
Cuba recently approved 176 economic measures, including the introduction of private banking, conversion of state enterprises into joint-stock companies, and granting surface rights for up to 99 years.
How did the Cuban government approve these economic changes?
The Cuban government approved these changes with unprecedented speed, without public consultation. They were endorsed by the Communist Party's Central Committee and unanimously passed by the National Assembly following a support letter from Raúl Castro.
What is the impact of these reforms on ordinary Cubans?
These reforms are unlikely to improve the difficult living conditions of most Cubans, who face prolonged power outages and food shortages. The new minimum wage is insufficient to cover basic necessities.