The unexpected blackout that engulfed Spain and Portugal on April 28 left people in shock, caused chaos, and, unsurprisingly, inspired a flood of memes from Cuba. As Spain faced one of the most significant power outages in its recent history, with only 35% of its electrical consumption operational and emergency measures enacted, Cubans turned to the one thing that never fails in a crisis: humor.
Cuban social media was awash with jokes, parodies, and posts that turned the European blackout into a national topic. A Facebook user, Edmundo Dantés Junior, quipped, "Hey! If they need someone to clean the tubes at Spain's Felton, just let us know," referencing a common maintenance task often mentioned by Cuban authorities regarding thermoelectric plants, particularly the Felton plant in Holguín.
The parody account of the Cuban Electric Union, @UNE__CUBA, known for its comedic take on the nation's energy system woes, was at the center of this humor. Notable posts included:
- "Today's generation deficit was so significant that it affected part of Europe."
- "The blackout world cup heats up as Europeans make a strong entry, aiming to take the lead. A general blackout is expected due to the simultaneous shutdown of Felton and La Guiteras. Rest assured, our UNE team will not lose our group lead."
- "At Pedro Sánchez's request, a team of linemen is currently heading to Spain to support their energy crisis. He also requested that Lázaro Guerra and Bernardo Espinosa join the expedition to report on the blackouts on La Sexta."
- "Blackouts? We've had 72-hour ones, not like those 12-hour ones in Europe."
Another viral post humorously announced the formation of a "Clic Patrol" delegation that would travel to Europe to investigate the blackout, comprising Cubans with Spanish passports. The mission leader, they claimed, would be none other than the government-affiliated journalist Bernardo Espinosa, a well-known figure who reports daily on Cuba's electrical system status.
In a piece of graphic humor, a new blackout schedule for Spain and Portugal was announced as if they were just additional Cuban provinces. The jokes continued with remarks like, "The Arsenio Martínez Campos disconnected in Spain," mimicking the technical jargon of UNE's daily reports and the Cuban regime's habit of naming thermoelectric plants after national heroes.
A fictitious cover of the "Dramma" (a play on words referring to the official Granma newspaper) circulated, featuring headlines such as "General blackout in Spain after La Guiteras received a Spanish passport," alluding to Cuba's most iconic thermoelectric plant.
Beyond the laughter, Cubans couldn't help but compare the institutional reactions between the two countries. In Spain, the government acknowledged the seriousness of the event, launched an immediate investigation, and President Pedro Sánchez assured that no hypothesis was off the table. Meanwhile, in Cuba, power outages are a daily occurrence, with UNE communiqués often causing more confusion than clarity.
The contrast is as stark as it is humorous: while a few hours without power can paralyze entire countries in Europe, a decade of systematic blackouts in Cuba has become part of the everyday landscape—and now, the fuel for the best Cuban humor.
Because if one thing is certain, it's that in Cuba, the light may go out, but the spark never dies.
Understanding the Cuban Response to Spain's Blackout
How did Cubans react to the blackout in Spain?
Cubans responded with humor, creating memes and jokes on social media, turning the European power outage into a topic of national amusement.
What role did the Cuban Electric Union parody account play?
The parody account, @UNE__CUBA, was pivotal in generating humorous content, making light of both the Spanish outage and Cuba's own energy challenges.
How do Cuban power outages compare to those in Europe?
While European countries are paralyzed by a few hours without power, Cubans have adapted to decades of regular blackouts, making it part of their daily lives.