Raúl Castro's Return: Promotions Amidst ETECSA Price Hike Unrest

In the midst of rising public discontent over ETECSA's recent price hike, the Cuban regime once again resorted to political and military symbolism to quell social pressure. On Friday, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz made a public appearance alongside Miguel Díaz-Canel, where it was announced that Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas was promoted to the rank of Army Corps General.

Currently, three key figures hold the rank of active Army Corps General in Cuba, forming the core of the military power: Álvaro López Miera, Joaquín Quintas Solá, and Roberto Legrá Sotolongo. López Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), is considered the regime's chief military strategist and one of Castro's most trusted confidants. Joaquín Quintas Solá, at 86, remains Deputy Minister of the FAR and head of the Central Strategic Region, recently participating in exercises like Meteoro 2025 and Bastión. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo (70), Chief of the General Staff, rounds out the high command of the Cuban regime's military.

The continued activity of these three generals underscores not only their loyalty to the Castro legacy but also the regime's commitment to maintaining a command structure rooted in loyalty, seniority, and tight control over the armed forces.

The Symbolic Act and Its Implications

The ceremony on Friday, held on the 64th anniversary of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), is no coincidence in the political calendar of the ruling elite. The reappearance of the historical leader of the so-called "Cuban revolution" aims to reaffirm, to an increasingly disillusioned citizenry, the image of traditional power as a guarantor of stability.

Beyond the military choreography, the promotion of the minister responsible for internal security and repression is a clear signal (sanctioned by the United States): the regime is bolstering its coercive apparatus just as critical voices, especially among university students and urban sectors affected by the rise in telecommunications service prices, grow louder.

A Promotion with a Message

According to the National Television News (NTV), the promotion was granted based on "the results achieved by the Ministry of the Interior under his leadership, the level of preparedness and combat readiness reached by his forces, as well as his loyalty to the Party and the legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz."

In essence, military rank is being awarded for the repressive role the MININT plays in controlling social dissatisfaction, particularly at a time when protests and public expressions of disobedience, though isolated, have begun to resurface on the island.

During the ceremony, other high-ranking officers were also promoted, and a congratulatory letter signed by Raúl himself was read, reinforcing the regime's belligerent narrative.

First Colonel Hugo Morales Karell spoke on behalf of those promoted, reaffirming their loyalty to the Party and the defense of "internal order." Morales Karell, the second-in-command of the National Revolutionary Police Directorate, is a notorious enforcer who has appeared on television threatening Cubans during periods of widespread discontent and spontaneous protests.

Backdrop of Social Unrest and Protests

The institutional maneuver cannot be ignored. Since ETECSA announced its new pricing scheme—which effectively makes internet and mobile phone access even more expensive—university students, professors, and citizens, in general, have expressed their disapproval on social media and, in some cases, in public spaces.

At the University of Havana and other educational institutions across the country, student demonstrations demanding the tariff increase's repeal have taken place. This phenomenon, unusual in the Cuban context, has raised concerns within the political apparatus and has been followed by an escalation of surveillance, summons, and control by the MININT.

True to its style, the regime does not respond with corrections but with displays of authority. Raúl Castro's reappearance, carefully presented as support for "revolutionary continuity," aims to project strength.

Meanwhile, Álvarez Casas's promotion serves as a reminder that the regime still relies on the instruments it has developed over six decades of totalitarian rule to neutralize any rebellion attempts.

The Crisis of Legitimacy

Though the government tries to project cohesion and control, the social reality is increasingly difficult to contain with symbols and military promotions. Raúl's "prestige" no longer holds the same sway over a young population that mostly does not see him as a political reference. And forceful measures, far from calming tempers, may become fuel for a citizenry exhausted by economic hardship and lack of freedoms.

Friday's event makes it clear that the regime is not willing to yield to discontent but instead doubles down on repression as a form of control. Yet, in a Cuba where legitimacy erodes daily, the return of the old dictator and the promotion of the chief enforcer are merely signs of weakness disguised as firmness.

Raúl Castro as a Symbolic Resource in Times of Crisis

In recent years, the Cuban regime has systematically turned to Raúl Castro to bolster the image of "continuity" and stability amidst growing social discontent and economic crisis.

The most recent public appearance of the Army General took place on May 1, 2025, during the International Workers' Day parade at the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana. Raúl attended the event with Díaz-Canel and other high-ranking figures, in a day marked by the massive display of support for the regime. These public reappearances by the general are not random but are part of a deliberate strategy to shore up the legitimacy of Díaz-Canel's government, whose popularity has been waning.

One of the most notable appearances occurred in January 2025, when Raúl participated in the traditional Torch March in Havana. His presence sought to back Díaz-Canel amid food shortages, blackouts, and repression, which had generated growing social discontent and a mass exodus of young people and those of working age.

Earlier, in December 2024, the general led the so-called "March of the Combatant People," organized by the regime amid the severe crisis affecting the country. The event, also attended by Díaz-Canel, was convened to "condemn the U.S. economic blockade policy and Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism," but also served as a show of force against growing popular discontent.

These orchestrated public appearances by the Army General aim to project an image of unity and solidity for the Cuban government in critical moments. However, for many Cubans, his presence highlights the regime's need to rely on historical figures due to the lack of popular support for current leaders.