Miguel Díaz-Canel wrapped up the 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties in Havana on Saturday with an unexpected call to the global communist movement: "I urge self-criticism. Simply condemning the empire is not enough," he stated before over a hundred delegates from 48 political organizations.
The event, known as #24EIPCO, took place from August 7th to 9th at Havana's Convention Palace and coincided with the centennial commemorations of Fidel Castro, whose exact birth date is August 13th.
The most striking statement from his closing remarks was directed not at the Cuban government but at communist parties worldwide. Díaz-Canel urged them to transition from rhetoric to action: "We must build popular power at the grassroots, take to the streets, neighborhoods, factories, and schools."
The call for "self-criticism" was intended for the international communist movement, which Díaz-Canel urged to move beyond statements and turn solidarity into "concrete actions" in parliaments, unions, and social movements.
Blame on the U.S. and Defense of Socialism
Throughout most of his speech, Díaz-Canel adhered to the regime's usual script. He held the United States government accountable for Cuba's ongoing crisis and defended socialism as "the only realistic and humane solution against capitalist barbarism."
To highlight what he described as the humanitarian impact of the embargo, Díaz-Canel provided statistics from Cuba's energy and health sectors. According to him, 98,500 patients are on surgical waiting lists, including 12,000 children. There are 34,000 pregnant women unable to receive sufficient prenatal ultrasounds.
Additionally, he claimed that 67,000 children under one year old born in recent months lack updated vaccination schedules, and 117,000 adults and 1,200 children with cancer are not receiving proper treatments.
Energy Crisis and Economic Reforms
Regarding infant mortality, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that the rate has doubled compared to historical levels of four or five per thousand live births, currently standing at 9.8.
Addressing the energy crisis, he admitted that Cuba experiences power outages lasting 20 hours or more each day. He attributed part of the issue to 1,400 MW of distributed generation being offline due to fuel shortages.
"If we had those 1,400 MW available daily, the blackouts would only last 3 hours instead of 20 or more, as our people currently endure," he stated.
The leader also defended ongoing economic reforms, dismissing any notion that they signify a shift toward capitalism.
"This is a process to stimulate the economy, not to establish capitalism. There will be no rampant privatization. The fundamental means of production remain in the hands of the people," he declared.
In June, Díaz-Canel acknowledged to regime officials that there are hurdles not caused by the embargo, a recognition that contrasts with the dominant tone of Saturday's speech, where the embargo was blamed for almost all of the country's problems.
Following the meeting's conclusion, the Convention Palace hosts the colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future" starting this Monday, scheduled until August 13th, marking the centenary of the late Cuban dictator.
Key Issues Facing Cuba
What was the primary focus of Díaz-Canel's speech at the 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties?
Díaz-Canel's primary focus was urging the international communist movement to embrace self-criticism and move beyond rhetoric to actionable steps, emphasizing the need to build popular power and take concrete actions.
What are some challenges highlighted by Díaz-Canel that Cuba is currently facing?
Díaz-Canel highlighted several challenges, including a severe energy crisis with daily power outages, a significant backlog of medical procedures, and shortages in vaccinations and cancer treatments for children and adults.
How did Díaz-Canel address the perception of ongoing economic reforms in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel defended the economic reforms, stating they are meant to stimulate the economy rather than lead to capitalism, ensuring that key means of production remain publicly owned.
What was Díaz-Canel's stance on the U.S. embargo's impact on Cuba?
Díaz-Canel blamed the U.S. embargo for many of Cuba's current issues, describing its humanitarian impact, though he previously admitted to internal challenges not caused by the embargo.