As Cuba endures six nationwide blackouts in 2026 with residents facing up to 20-hour daily power outages, Miguel Díaz-Canel kicked off the first International Colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future" on Monday. His message encapsulated his approach to navigating the island's most severe crisis in decades: return to Fidel Castro's ideology as the guiding principle to emerge from this turmoil.
Addressing over 1,500 delegates from 63 different countries at Havana's Convention Palace, the Cuban leader acknowledged the nation is experiencing "one of the most challenging times" in the 67-year history of the Revolution. Despite this, he dismissed any notion of altering the ideological course.
The event, which runs until August 13—marking Castro's 100th birth anniversary—also featured appearances by the President of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, and Roberto Morales Ojeda.
Legacy as a Method, Not Just Words
Díaz-Canel emphasized that the historic leader's legacy is not merely a collection of sayings, but a method of action. "Fidel didn't leave recipes; he left a method," he stated, urging its application to tackle the current crisis through reality-based analysis, clear political objectives, popular mobilization, and adaptation to adverse conditions.
"Saving the Cuban Revolution from one of the gravest threats it has faced in 67 years, amidst various aggressions, is our generation's greatest challenge," he declared, while blaming the U.S. embargo and what he termed "imperial hostility," avoiding any responsibility for the economic model managed by his own regime.
Current Challenges and Government Response
The centennial appeal to Castro arrives as Cuba grapples with six system-wide electrical failures in 2026, projected to fall short by up to 2,040 MW against a demand of approximately 3,000 MW, along with severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine.
Back in April, Díaz-Canel admitted that Cuba "lacks fuel for almost everything," and by June, he conceded that "creative resistance" is no longer sufficient to halt the decline. In July, he further acknowledged the regime's resort to "capitalist practices" to sustain the system, promising to "unleash productive forces" while maintaining state control over the socialist model.
Faced with these challenges, the government announced a package of 176 economic and social measures. However, Díaz-Canel's primary strategy showcased to international delegates remained ideological legitimacy: studying Fidel "not as a repository of quotes," but as a practical compass.
Discrepancy Between Official Events and Daily Life
The stark contrast between the event and the everyday reality of Cubans did not go unnoticed. While over a thousand foreigners flocked to Havana to celebrate the centennial, the island's population endures prolonged power outages and shortages of basic necessities.
In May 2026, the UN warned that the lack of oil supplies is exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Cuba, affecting health, food, and potable water sectors.
"Fidel's ideology is the most precise compass for confronting the storm the Cuban people are experiencing," concluded Díaz-Canel before the delegates, encapsulating the regime's gamble: invoking the founder as the solution to an unresolved crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Energy Crisis
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba in 2026?
Cuba is experiencing frequent power outages due to a significant shortfall in electricity production, with a projected deficit of up to 2,040 MW against a demand of around 3,000 MW, compounded by severe shortages of fuel.
How is the Cuban government addressing the economic crisis?
The Cuban government has announced a package of 176 economic and social measures to address the crisis, though its central strategy remains rooted in ideological legitimacy, particularly by invoking Fidel Castro's legacy as a guiding method.
What role does Fidel Castro's ideology play in Cuba's current strategy?
Fidel Castro's ideology is being invoked as a practical guide to navigate the current crisis, emphasizing the need for analysis, clear political goals, popular mobilization, and adaptation to adverse conditions as outlined by Díaz-Canel.