Former youth leader and academic Hassan Pérez Casabona recently resurfaced in the public eye through a video shared on Facebook, where he showers praises on dictator Fidel Castro. This comes in the context of Cuba's official campaign celebrating what would have been Castro's centennial birthday.
In the video, uploaded by Alejandro Ernesto Santamaria Tasende, Pérez Casabona describes Castro as "a man of extraordinary sensitivity, a giant of ideas, yet a warm human being," portraying him as "likely the only person" who combined the traits of a statesman, intellectual, and guerrilla leader.
The Exceptional Fidel Castro
To support this claim of uniqueness, Pérez Casabona argues that Castro could simultaneously manage "the deployment of Cuban troops in Angola, where every piece of weaponry was located," while ensuring that "the fighters had chocolate and condensed milk."
A Campaign in Fidel's Honor
The video is part of the official campaign tagged with #100YearsWithFidel and #Fidel'sCentury, marking 2026 as the "Year of the Centennial of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz." The main events took place in August, featuring Raúl Castro's public appearance alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel at Havana's Karl Marx Theater, with the official agenda extending until December 4th.
Born in Jovellanos, Matanzas, in 1977, Pérez Casabona once served as president of the University Student Federation (FEU) and later as the second secretary of the National Committee of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) during the so-called Battle of Ideas.
An Evolving Career
In September 2008, the UJC announced his replacement as part of a "logical renewal of cadres," transitioning him to university teaching. He has since been a full professor and researcher at the Center for Hemispheric and United States Studies (CEHSEU) at the University of Havana.
His subsequent career includes a stint in Bolivia, where he arrived in 2018 and, according to 2019 reports, advised members of the Bolivian presidential security during Evo Morales's government. In May 2023, he reappeared at a virtual event with European solidarity groups supporting the Cuban regime, partially speaking in English.
A Contrasting Message
The current video follows a more nuanced speech Pérez Casabona delivered to European audiences. In an interview published by the Spanish media Mundo Obrero on October 3, he stated, "Fidel cannot be invoked through repetition." The contrast between this stance and the direct praises in the video is noteworthy.
In the clip, the academic also presents Castro's thinking as a "method of analysis" superior to social media content, asserting that "the living Fidel, fighting, dialoguing, is not a rant, not an algorithm, not a video tutorial," concluding that "the best tribute to Fidel is going directly to the source of his thoughts."
The post's author dubs him "Metralleta"—a nickname reflecting his image as a combative speaker during the Battle of Ideas—and calls him a "fervent Fidelista" and "an extraordinary social scientist."
In 2026, Pérez Casabona also released the book "Clearing Paths... Fidel and the Conquest of Time," which was presented in Seville and at the Communist Party of Spain's festival in Rivas-Vaciamadrid in late September.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hassan Pérez Casabona's Recent Activities
Who is Hassan Pérez Casabona?
Hassan Pérez Casabona is a former youth leader and academic from Cuba, known for his past roles in the University Student Federation and the Union of Young Communists.
What is the significance of the video shared by Pérez Casabona?
The video is part of a Cuban government campaign celebrating Fidel Castro's centennial, where Pérez Casabona praises Castro's leadership and unique qualities.
How has Pérez Casabona's career evolved over the years?
After being replaced in the Union of Young Communists, he transitioned to academia and later became involved in international advisory roles, including in Bolivia.