Cuban broadcaster, actress, and host Laritza Camacho has once again directly challenged the island's ruling elite with a powerful statement summing up months of sustained criticism: "They should protest against themselves," she declared on her Facebook page, addressing the regime's leaders.
This declaration comes at a time when Cuba is experiencing unprecedented levels of civil unrest. According to Cubalex data reported by Infobae, there were 766 demonstrations in the first half of 2026, with over 410 arbitrary arrests.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests in April and 1,311 in May, driven by power outages lasting up to twenty hours a day, severe shortages of food, water, and fuel, and a general rise in the cost of living.
A Year of Escalating Criticism
Camacho's recent statement is not an isolated incident but the latest in a series of outspoken criticisms that have intensified throughout the year.
In early June, the presenter demanded that leaders "fill the pots," clean up the trash, listen to the people, and grant amnesty to political prisoners.
Come July, her tone was even sharper: "I am against the Cuban government because the Cuban government is against Cuba," she declared boldly.
Calling for Accountability
Just days later, she criticized the regime's policies as being designed to keep them and their close associates entrenched in power and luxury. By the end of that month, she urged officials to "take off the mask" and fulfill their true responsibilities to the people.
In August, she challenged Communist Party members and concluded that in Cuba, "we are not happy."
On September 29, she again pointed to the government's accountability, stating, "the problem has never been the photo or the photographer," and just days before her most recent statement, on October 2, she posted on Facebook: "No one would miss the taste of bread if they weren't eating stones" and "No one would miss the intelligence of the verb if they weren't hearing nonsense, each worse than the last."
A Persistent Voice of Dissent
Camacho, recognized for her work on Radio Ciudad de La Habana and shows like Mediodía en TV, has been using her social media platforms for years to critique the regime from within the island, making her one of the most visible dissenting voices in the country.
Her outspoken criticism became publicly forceful starting with the protests on July 11, 2021, when she demanded apologies and the resignation of Díaz-Canel for ordering the crackdown on demonstrators.
Five years later, with the crisis worsening and protests multiplying, her message to the leaders is more forceful than ever: if anyone should take to the streets to protest, it is them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Laritza Camacho's Criticism
Why is Laritza Camacho critical of the Cuban government?
Laritza Camacho criticizes the Cuban government for the hardships faced by the Cuban people, including severe shortages and arbitrary arrests. She believes the regime's policies serve to entrench its power and luxury, rather than addressing the needs of the citizens.
What recent statement did Laritza Camacho make about Cuban leaders?
Laritza Camacho recently stated that Cuban leaders should protest against themselves, highlighting her belief that the government is responsible for the country's ongoing crises.