Elián González, a member of Cuba's National Assembly and a well-known figure used in propaganda by the Cuban regime, expressed during his trip to Spain that, despite their exhaustion, the Cuban people clearly identify the root of their troubles, which he attributes to the United States embargo.
“No matter how tired the Cuban people are, they know where the problem lies," González stated in an interview with the Spanish magazine Contexto y Acción (Ctxt), published this Friday.
The article, penned by journalist Aníbal Malvar, shares the deputy's remarks during his time in Spain, where he was invited by the Spanish Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC).
Blaming the U.S. Embargo
González described the current situation on the island as "the worst blockade experienced during the revolutionary period," labeling it a "brutal, medieval siege without legitimacy." He solely blamed the U.S. sanctions for the crisis, avoiding any accountability on the part of the Cuban government.
When questioned about whether the economic reforms under leader Miguel Díaz-Canel signal a shift toward a mixed model, González dodged a direct answer, asserting that Cuba is charting its own course.
“We are not going to copy any model. We didn't copy the Russian model, nor the Chinese. We are trying to build our own socialism,” he remarked.
A Reluctance to Criticize the Regime
In a separate interview with the Asturian newspaper El Comercio, González struggled to point out any mistakes made by the Cuban government when asked for self-criticism.
"The truth is it would be difficult for me to tell you. I wish I knew what needs to be done to get out of this situation," he replied.
Regarding the possibility of military intervention ordered by former President Donald Trump, González commented, "We fear an intervention because of the potential loss of lives, but not from the standpoint of confronting it. We are not afraid to consider the United States an adversary."
Controversy in Spain
On July 5, González participated in the XXXIX Semana Negra of Gijón in a panel discussion alongside Fidel Castro Smirnov, the grandson of dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016), in front of an audience of over 350 people.
The event was disrupted by young Cuban Adelainys Castán, who shouted "Murderers!" and sang "Patria y Vida," stirring controversy over the festival being used as a propaganda platform for the regime.
González's statements align with his role as a spokesperson for the regime. In October 2025, he asserted in Mexico that the Cuban government "does not make major mistakes" and blamed Washington entirely for the crisis.
Last May, he dismissed the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal charge against former President Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes as a "farce."
At 32, González was elected as a deputy for the municipality of Cárdenas in 2022 after being nominated by regime-affiliated organizations. He also serves as assistant director at AT Comercial Varadero, a company under the military elite's conglomerate GAESA.
His visit to Spain coincided with the United Nations' approval, on July 7, of an urgent debate on the embargo against Cuba, with 136 votes in favor, nine against, and 30 abstentions. This was the lowest support in over three decades compared to the 165 votes secured in October 2025.
Understanding Elián González's Statements
What does Elián González blame for Cuba's current crisis?
Elián González attributes Cuba's current crisis primarily to the United States embargo, describing it as a "brutal, medieval siege" without legitimacy.
Did Elián González acknowledge any mistakes by the Cuban government?
No, Elián González did not acknowledge any mistakes by the Cuban government. When asked for self-criticism, he expressed difficulty in identifying what needs to be done to improve the situation.
How did Elián González respond to the idea of copying other economic models?
Elián González stated that Cuba is not looking to replicate any foreign models, such as those of Russia or China, but is instead attempting to forge its own path in building socialism.