On Tuesday, Cuba's Council of State declared through the Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 28 the removal of Tanieris Diéguez La O, the ambassador to Australia, along with the dismissal of several officials from the National Electoral Council. These actions, authorized by Esteban Lazo Hernández, the president of the Parliament, are part of a broader reshuffling within the state apparatus that has been ongoing in recent months.
As reported by the independent newspaper 14ymedio, Tanieris Diéguez, a professor and jurist from Matanzas, took charge of the diplomatic mission in Canberra in 2023 following a noteworthy academic career. She completed her doctorate that year, studied at the Higher Institute of International Relations (ISRI), and served as a lecturer at the University of Havana and a legal advisor at Cuba's Permanent Mission to the UN. While in Australia, she worked on securing agreements for Cuban medical and educational missions to indigenous communities. She has not publicly commented on her dismissal, and her profile on the social network X hasn't mentioned her removal.
Changes in the Electoral Council
The Gazette also announced the termination of Rubén Ramos Rojas as the president of the Provincial Electoral Council of Villa Clara, citing "loss of the requirements to hold the position" and the end of his employment. Osvaldo Adolfo Guzmán Calderón has been appointed as his successor. Additionally, María Luisa Zamora Rodríguez was removed from her role as a member of the National Electoral Council due to "instability in fulfilling her duties." The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment promoted her to the Directorate of Human Resources, and Juan Carlos García Caisés, a prosecutor from the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic, has been appointed to her former position.
These dismissals, which also include high-ranking government figures such as former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil Fernández, ousted in February 2024, and Vice Prime Minister since 2021, Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, removed in October 2024 for "errors in the performance of their duties," occur amid a severe economic crisis marked by food shortages, prolonged blackouts, and rampant inflation. The regime has emphasized reinforcing political-ideological work and maintaining internal order, as stated by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz. These measures indicate a strategy of political control in response to escalating social discontent and internal criticism.
Key Changes in Cuba's Political Landscape
Why was the Cuban ambassador to Australia removed?
The specific reasons for Tanieris Diéguez La O's removal as ambassador have not been publicly detailed by Cuban authorities, but it is part of a broader government reshuffling.
What changes have occurred in the National Electoral Council?
Rubén Ramos Rojas and María Luisa Zamora Rodríguez were removed from their respective positions, with new appointments made to replace them, indicating a restructuring within the Council.
How is the current economic crisis in Cuba influencing political decisions?
The economic crisis, characterized by shortages and inflation, is leading the government to focus on strengthening political control and internal order to address growing social unrest.