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Cuban Economist Challenges Díaz-Canel's "Self-Critique," Accuses Him of Dodging Responsibility for Cuba's Poverty

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 by Christopher Ramirez

Cuban economist Pedro Monreal has sharply criticized the recent "self-critique" by leader Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding Cuba's ongoing economic crisis. Monreal argues that Díaz-Canel's statements fail to acknowledge key policy mistakes and the direct role of the government in the declining standard of living for the Cuban people.

In a series of posts on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Monreal dismantled the arguments presented by Díaz-Canel during a June 20 interview broadcast on the official Presidency channel. Although Díaz-Canel admitted to "mistakes" in economic management, such as the failure of the so-called "Tarea Ordenamiento," low investment in vital sectors, and an "import-oriented mindset," he continued to primarily blame the U.S. embargo for the country's woes.

Internal Failures Overlooked

Monreal contends that this approach deliberately overlooks internal responsibilities. "There is official reluctance to acknowledge the government's direct responsibility for the widespread impoverishment of Cuban society," he stated in his thread. He emphasized that simply saying "things didn't go well" is insufficient when there were foreseeable failures in policy design, implementation, and priorities.

For instance, Monreal highlighted the implementation of the "economic restructuring," describing it as an avoidable mistake. "A shift in relative prices focused on redistributing wealth without first strengthening the supply response capacity, including the private sector, would repeat the type of crisis currently seen in Cuba," he explained.

Acknowledging Deeper Issues

Monreal also criticized attempts to downplay the magnitude of the failure by referring to "distortions" rather than admitting that there was never an effective monetary and exchange rate unification. He believes the current problems stem from a flawed sequence, insufficient devaluation, and the absence of a functional exchange rate regime.

Moreover, he pointed out that the expansion of the informal market and partial dollarization are symptoms of chaotic economic policy implementation, exacerbating inequality and poverty.

Misplaced Investment Priorities

Another of Monreal's criticisms focused on the lack of investment in agriculture, which Díaz-Canel identified as a weakness. Monreal dismissed the idea that investment in agriculture was simply not feasible, arguing instead that it was a deliberate political decision to prioritize other sectors, such as tourism.

"Claiming that resources have not been used rationally is not a mistake in itself but the result of a crucial error: the use of a centralized planning scheme," Monreal argued, referring to the model supported by the "Conceptualization of the Cuban Economic and Social Model."

Monreal's critique is particularly significant at a time when the government itself acknowledges the severity of the situation, marked by rampant inflation, an unprecedented energy crisis, and a mass exodus of Cubans.

In the same interview, Díaz-Canel admitted that power outages have lasted up to 20 hours a day and that the electrical system is in a critical state.

A Call for Genuine Change

For Monreal, the root problem is the current model's inability to create feedback and learning mechanisms. "Understanding a government's denial or minimization of economic policy mistakes does not justify such actions," he concluded.

Monreal's observations add to a growing chorus of critical voices, both inside and outside the island, demanding not just explanations but a real change in policies to lift the country out of its economic abyss.

Meanwhile, the official discourse remains anchored in a narrative that, according to experts, prevents an honest confrontation with the structural errors of the system.

Díaz-Canel's self-critique appears deeply hypocritical, coming from a regime that blocks the existence of alternative political forces with different economic projects and has ruled without alternation for 66 years. In Cuba, there is no pluralistic system where one government's mistakes can be corrected by another through voting, nor is there room for dissent without repression.

The continuity of power is imposed as the central goal, above the results of its policies or the well-being of citizens. Thus, the partial admission of mistakes loses value when there is no political will to transform a failed model or to be accountable to the population.

Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges

What are the main criticisms made by Pedro Monreal against Díaz-Canel's economic policies?

Pedro Monreal criticizes Díaz-Canel for failing to acknowledge the government's direct role in Cuba's economic decline, particularly with regards to policy design and implementation which he views as flawed.

Why does Monreal believe the "economic restructuring" was a mistake?

Monreal argues that the economic restructuring focused on redistributing wealth without strengthening supply capacity, which led to repeating the current crisis in Cuba.

How does the lack of investment in agriculture impact Cuba's economy?

Monreal suggests that the lack of investment in agriculture is a political choice to prioritize other sectors, such as tourism, which has further strained the economy and resources.

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