A statement by Miguel Díaz-Canel on Monday during a Council of Ministers meeting has sparked widespread outrage among Cubans on social media. "Our main priority is to save the revolution," declared the Cuban leader while presenting the roadmap for implementing 176 economic reforms approved by the regime.
The video of his speech, shared online, quickly garnered over 28,000 views and nearly 4,000 comments in less than a day. Many Cubans perceived his words as a clear admission that the regime's survival is placed above the well-being of its citizens.
The most repeated comments echo a common sentiment: "And who saves the people?", "Saving the Revolution is saving themselves," and "They are the revolution; that's why they want to save it."
Other remarks were equally straightforward: "Before politics, there must be food, electricity, and medicine," "We are surviving, not living," and "They’ve had over 60 years, and the people are worse off."
Contradictory Priorities
During his address to the Council of Ministers, Díaz-Canel was explicit about the regime's priorities: "We are responsible for saving the revolution in these conditions, not just saving it but continuing to refine our process and defend our socialist construction."
He also mentioned the importance of "creating wealth, ensuring social justice, and protecting the vulnerable," but he made it clear that these goals are secondary to defending the socialist model and continuing the revolutionary process.
This statement contrasts sharply with Díaz-Canel's words just three days earlier at the XXII Congress of the Central Workers' Union of Cuba: "Power belongs to the people, not the rich or the bourgeois."
Economic Crisis and Reform Skepticism
Cubans were quick to highlight this contradiction: "It's about staying in power at any cost," wrote one individual. "Cuba doesn't need slogans; it needs solutions," pointed out another.
These declarations come amid an unprecedented economic crisis. The ECLAC forecasts a contraction of the Cuban GDP by 6.5% in 2026, with electricity generation deficits exceeding 2,000 MW, causing blackouts that affect more than half of the country simultaneously. Moreover, the minimum wage is equivalent to approximately $4.65 per month at the informal market exchange rate.
The package of 176 measures—approved by the National Assembly on June 19—includes reforms that the regime had previously banned for decades: private banking, private exchange houses, removing the limit on employees for small and medium-sized enterprises, and allowing individuals to own more than one business.
However, Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that the 2026 Economic Plan does not adequately guide these transformations and emphasized the need for "a different course of action."
Public skepticism about the reforms was summed up in one of the most shared comments: "It's not the Revolution, it's the people."
Understanding Cuba's Current Challenges
What did Díaz-Canel say that caused outrage among Cubans?
Díaz-Canel stated that the main priority is to save the revolution, which many Cubans interpreted as prioritizing the regime's survival over the people's well-being.
How has the economic crisis affected Cuba?
Cuba faces an economic crisis with a projected GDP contraction of 6.5% by 2026, severe electricity deficits causing widespread blackouts, and a minimum wage of about $4.65 per month.
What significant reforms are included in the 176 measures?
The reforms include the introduction of private banking, private exchange houses, removing employee limits for small enterprises, and allowing multiple business ownerships.