Díaz-Canel Refutes Allegations of Betraying Socialism: "We Must Unleash Productive Forces"

In a recent interview with Puerto Rican weekly CLARIDAD, conducted at Havana's Palace of the Revolution, Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly dismissed any claims of ideological deviation and defended the ongoing economic reforms as a means to bolster, rather than abandon, Cuban socialism.

"Rest assured, there is no betrayal of socialist construction here—neither in principle, conviction, nor action," the Cuban leader declared. He further emphasized, "We will continue to defend socialism and social justice. However, we must unleash productive forces to generate more wealth for the country."

The Economic Reforms and Their Implications

These statements come two weeks after the National Assembly approved, on June 19, a significant package of 176 economic measures—the largest since the Special Period of the 1990s. These measures include the authorization of private banks, private exchange houses, removal of worker limits for small businesses, and opening investment opportunities for Cubans abroad.

The reform package has sparked internal debates about whether the regime is shifting towards capitalism. Addressing this directly, Díaz-Canel reiterated, "We reaffirm social ownership as the primary form of property." He described the measures as "distinctively Cuban solutions," resulting from discussions over the last decade, dismissing any suggestion of external pressure.

Addressing the Crisis and Public Discontent

However, the president acknowledged the severe crisis affecting the population: "There are shortages of transportation, food, and medicine, along with power outages lasting over twenty hours. This causes dissatisfaction, as no one can be content with such a situation; the people are suffering."

Instead of accepting responsibility, Díaz-Canel blamed the entire crisis on the U.S. embargo, responding to island-wide pot-banging protests by saying, "People are banging pots, some more upset than others. I say: well, bang your pots at the northern neighbors who are responsible for this blackout."

Protests and Government Response

This response starkly contrasts with the dire reality faced by many Cubans. In Marianao, Zamora residents protested after more than 24 hours without electricity, while pot-banging protests spread across several areas in Santiago de Cuba with the slogan: "We want to sleep with lights; we want to live like people."

On June 30, the electric generation deficit hit a historic high of 2,211 MW, leaving nearly 70% of the country without power. The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, Cuba's largest, experienced its 17th breakdown of 2026 on the very day the interview was published.

The regime's response to the protests involved militarization, internet blackouts, and arrests. The legal aid organization Cubalex documented at least 38 arrests in June, including six minors.

The Economic Outlook

The economic context exacerbates the situation further. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects a contraction of Cuba's GDP by 6.5% in 2026—the worst in Latin America—amounting to a cumulative decline of nearly 26% since 2020, while the average salary on the island barely reached 6,930 pesos, about 15 dollars monthly, in 2025.

Despite these challenges, Díaz-Canel concluded the interview with a resolute belief in the system's resilience: "I am convinced that we will overcome, move forward, triumph, and we will not surrender. We will not surrender."