The Madrid branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) seems to be turning a blind eye to reality. Their response to a video of a Cuban woman in Miami warmly greeting Isabel Díaz Ayuso was not only condescending and clumsy but also highlighted the party's selective blindness and hypocrisy. Instead of recognizing the oppressive regimes on the left, they choose to see specters on the right.
The woman, known as Norma, greeted the Madrid president with fervor and, through tears, asked a pointed question: "When will Pedro Sánchez be removed from power?" This interaction was not a staged scene or a partisan chant; it was a sincere plea from someone who has felt firsthand the impacts of a government veering towards authoritarianism masked as progressivism.
How did the PSOE in Madrid respond? With disdain, stating that in Spain, women retire with dignity and have no fear of falling ill. What they fail to grasp is that this woman did not flee from Madrid to Miami; she fled from Havana. She didn’t abandon her homeland for the allure of air-conditioned malls but because the Cuban communist regime, which the PSOE seems to coddle and tolerate, drove her away.
Cuban Reality vs. Spanish Perception
Where is the dignity for elderly Cubans who lack decent pensions, struggle for proper nutrition, and have limited access to medical services or medications? The true issue isn't Miami; it's Cuba. Every time a Spanish socialist downplays this reality, they inadvertently sanitize a dictatorship and undermine the testimonies of those who have endured it.
Thus, the comparison isn't Miami vs. Madrid. It's Havana vs. Madrid. What Norma saw in Ayuso was not a celebrity; it was a symbol of hope. And what she, and many others, perceive in Pedro Sánchez is a slow but steady path toward the Cubanization of power, where dissent is criminalized, and the state becomes the ultimate authority over our lives: more control, more propaganda, less freedom.
The PSOE should cease ridiculing those who have escaped tyranny and start questioning why so many Cubans, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans see their political project as reminiscent of the nightmares they vowed never to relive.
Understanding the PSOE's Approach to Cuban Politics
Why did the Cuban woman express such emotions towards Isabel Díaz Ayuso?
The Cuban woman, Norma, expressed genuine emotions towards Ayuso due to her experiences with authoritarianism and her hope for leadership that opposes such regimes, which she sees in Ayuso.
What is the PSOE's stance on the Cuban regime?
The PSOE has been criticized for its leniency towards the Cuban regime, often overlooking the oppressive nature of its governance, which many see as a betrayal of socialist principles.
How does the comparison of Havana vs. Madrid reflect on Spanish politics?
The comparison highlights the fear that Spanish politics may be drifting towards a more controlled and authoritarian governance style, akin to what is seen in Cuba, especially under PSOE's leadership.