At a special meeting held on September 3, Laura Beatriz García Corcho, 29, was appointed as the new First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) in Villa Clara. She replaces Hermes Germán Aguilera Pérez.
Aguilera, who is 34, had been in the position since 2023 and served as a professional cadre of the organization for over six years.
In comments reported by the official newspaper Vanguardia, Meivys Estévez Echeverría, the First Secretary of the UJC's National Committee, described the transition as "a natural and happy movement," acknowledging the organization faced "very tough times" under Aguilera's leadership.
García, who holds a degree in Marxism and History, was previously a member of the Provincial Bureau, focusing on the political-ideological sphere.
The promotion of García follows a familiar pattern of leadership rotation within the communist youth structure, involving the reassignment of outgoing leaders to professional Party roles and the elevation of other officials to territorial leadership.
Recent Leadership Changes and the Role of Youth Engagement
This rotational approach was also seen in June in Havana when Raúl Palmero was replaced as provincial leader of the UJC, and in April 2024 at the national level, with Estévez's own election as head of the youth organization.
As the new First Secretary, García is charged with strengthening the Community Youth Network, a structure the regime promotes as a means to connect with young people in neighborhoods.
Estévez acknowledged the need for "a lot of effort and enthusiasm" to reach those who are most in need.
Currently, the organization has a presence in 1,263 out of the country's 1,410 popular councils. However, in August, President Miguel Díaz-Canel conceded that youth participation levels remain inadequate.
Declining Membership and the Call for Action
The issue is further compounded by the declining membership within the organization itself. The UJC's numbers have dropped from 609,000 members in 2007 to 415,000 in 2024, a decrease of nearly 194,000, amid rising emigration and ideological disillusionment, according to analysts.
The meeting was also attended by Susely Morfa González, First Secretary of the Communist Party in Villa Clara and a member of the Central Committee. Morfa, who led the UJC nationally from 2016 before transitioning to the Party apparatus, called for a youth "full of challenges" and demanded "less talk and more transformative action."
This call comes in the wake of protests and pot-banging demonstrations in Villa Clara in June, as the regime seeks to bolster its political work structures with the younger generation.
FAQs on Villa Clara's UJC Leadership Change
Who is the new First Secretary of the UJC in Villa Clara?
Laura Beatriz García Corcho has been appointed as the new First Secretary of the UJC in Villa Clara.
What challenges does the UJC face in Cuba?
The UJC is dealing with declining youth participation, a decrease in membership, and ideological disillusionment among young people.
What actions are being taken to engage the youth?
Efforts are underway to strengthen the Community Youth Network to better connect with young people in local neighborhoods.