Cuban Deputy and Troubadour Expresses Fondness for Díaz-Canel in National Assembly

During a session of the Cuban parliament on Wednesday, troubadour and deputy Nelson Valdés made headlines with an unexpected declaration of affection for leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.

This declaration occurred at the Seventh Ordinary Period of Sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power, held at Havana's Palace of Conventions. Valdés's remarks were broadcast live by Canal Caribe, the state-run media outlet providing special coverage of the legislative proceedings.

Valdés's brief speech opened with a greeting to General of the Army Raúl Castro, who participated via videoconference. He reminisced about his parents' unwavering commitment to the Revolution and concluded with words of support for Díaz-Canel. Notably, he did not address the issues faced by the people of Cienfuegos, whom he represents, or those affecting the rest of Cuba.

“What they're doing to Cuba is sheer genocide, and they're also waging a relentless campaign against those who continue Fidel Castro's legacy. (...) They're trying to destroy the love, loyalty, and unconditional support that many of us have,” Valdés stated.

Nelson Valdés lavishly praised the communist leader. “We view him as a father because he has been an example, standing strong during the toughest times, upholding the dignity of our historic leaders. He is our chief, but for me, he is also a father. He is Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and we will stand by him under any circumstances.”

The troubadour added, “We will defend what he does every day for this country. We must protect him. We must support him and be by his side because many of us know what he does daily for this country. He is another hero within the Cuban people, and we must take great care of him. Thank you, Mr. President!”

The scene quickly became viral on social media due to its unusual nature. The deputy's personal affection for the leader did not contribute to the debate at hand.

Cuban trova is a genre deeply rooted in political tradition, historically associated with figures like Silvio Rodríguez, who is also a deputy. A delegate making such proclamations about the leader highlights the nature of Cuba's political system, where loyalty to leadership is publicly showcased within institutional settings.

This Wednesday's session was convened by the regime through Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 77, signed by the President of the National Assembly, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, on July 10.

The legislative agenda includes projects such as the Labor Code, the Agricultural and Forestry Land Law, the Housing Law, the Law on the Organization of Central State Administration, and the Personal Identity and Domicile System Law.

In June 2026, the Assembly approved a package of 176 economic measures organized into 23 strategic axes, including the authorization of private banking and the transformation of state companies into commercial enterprises.

At that time, Díaz-Canel defended the reforms, asserting that “we are not abandoning socialism,” while acknowledging that the externally dependent model that sustained Cuba for decades “was not sustainable.”

This episode comes at a time when the regime has attempted to curb ridicule of Díaz-Canel on social media, making the troubadour's statements a striking contrast between the image the system projects internally and the perception it generates externally.