Cubans Lash Out at Díaz-Canel Over Decades of Economic Mismanagement

A recent remark by Miguel Díaz-Canel during an interview with the Puerto Rican weekly Claridad has sparked a wave of backlash and mockery on social media. The Cuban leader suggested that the island needs to "unleash productive forces to create more wealth," prompting a swift reaction from the public. Many Cubans reminded him that they've been waiting 67 years for exactly this change.

The video, shared on the official page of the Cuban Presidency, accumulated numerous comments, mostly filled with frustration, irony, and exasperation.

Public Outcry Over Wealth Disparity

The recurring question among users was: What wealth is he referring to? One commenter sarcastically noted, "Create more wealth, he said? Cuba has only experienced poverty and regression for decades, and it's only getting worse." This user also highlighted the disparity, noting how the children of leaders live lavishly in capitalist countries, specifically mentioning Díaz-Canel's stepson residing in Madrid.

Another comment sarcastically asked, "And who tied them up?" directly implicating the Communist Party in restraining Cuba’s economy for decades. Echoing this sentiment, another user wrote, "They've been trying to unleash productive forces for years. Seems our 'dedicated leaders' have struggled to untie those knots."

Criticism of Social Justice Claims

Díaz-Canel's comment on "social justice" also met with strong reactions. One user questioned, "Social justice? Can it be called that when some people have everything while others lack even water to bathe?" This comment came from someone experiencing a 90-hour blackout in their area. Another user expressed their disillusionment: "I've been hearing the same speech for 60 years. What is he talking about? Life is slipping away."

One poignant comment came in the form of a poem, calling for "the socialism the leaders live in, where there is no scarcity, no hunger, and even luxury dishes with imported drinks are consumed daily." The poem concluded with a sentiment shared by many: "I want for my people the socialism of the leaders, without the leaders."

Questioning Leadership Amid Crisis

Several users pointed out the contradiction of discussing wealth in a country with no stable electricity or water supply. "Without a stable energy system and fuel, what wealth are you talking about, Mr. President?" asked one commenter. Another was more blunt: "67 years of the same rhetoric, promising a future that doesn't exist because what truly doesn't exist in this country are leaders who prioritize the people."

Díaz-Canel's defense of socialism failed to convince anyone. "Socialism while living in capitalism," summarized one user. Another got to the heart of the issue: "The only thing they're defending is their grip on power to keep enriching themselves while the people starve."

These statements come amid Cuba's worst energy crisis in recent history, with a record 2,211 MW generation deficit on June 30, as nine of the 16 thermoelectric plants were out of service. Protests with banging pots have erupted across several provinces amid blackouts lasting over 20 hours a day.

During the same interview with Claridad, Díaz-Canel dismissed any betrayal of socialism and blamed the crisis on the U.S. embargo, but Cubans on social media weren't convinced. "You've been stealing the wealth for 67 years," was the retort that best captured the sentiment of those who listened.