As Cuba endures one of the most severe crises in its recent history—characterized by power outages lasting over 24 hours, food shortages, lack of medicines, a collapsed public transportation system, and a general decline in living conditions—the government maintains that the only viable path is the same system that has driven the country to its current state.
This Friday, Havana hosted the 10th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), led by Miguel Díaz-Canel. On social media, the leader claimed that the issues affecting the populace were being discussed "with critical insight," and emphasized the party's role in "analyzing, defining actions, and encouraging everyone's participation."
However, rather than suggesting a change in direction, the regime's leaders reiterated their commitment to socialism as the only feasible route. Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the PCC's Political Bureau, acknowledged during the meeting that the country is facing "one of the most complex stages in its history," describing the current conditions as "harsh," marked by "shortages, limitations, and discouragement." Yet, he reaffirmed that "socialism is the path" and that the Communist Party is "the force and compass" guiding towards collective well-being.
Socialism: An Unyielding Stance Amidst Chaos
This narrative contrasts sharply with the reality faced by millions of Cubans: endless power cuts, hospitals without supplies, a crumbling public transportation system, meager wages, and inflation that erodes any income. Year after year, the regime becomes less capable of providing the basics: food, medicine, and essential services. Nonetheless, the political machinery remains steadfast in its ideological rigidity.
The Plenary Session also carried significant symbolic weight. Historical figures like Ramiro Valdés Menéndez and José Ramón Machado Ventura attended, representing the continuity of a model that, for over six decades, has promised a socialist paradise that remains unfulfilled. Meanwhile, the current Constitution declares this model "irrevocable" and enshrines the Communist Party as the sole political force, effectively eliminating any alternative.
Contradictions and Justifications
Ironically, just days prior, an academic within the system admitted on state television that "Cuba is not a socialist country," but is rather "constructing" that model. Silvia Odriozola Guitart, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Havana, stated that it is necessary to "rescue" Lenin and that the Cuban socialist economy is "a science in construction."
These statements, far from offering solutions, bolster the narrative that every failure is part of an endless, unfinished experiment used by the regime to justify its hold on power. In a context of national emergency and growing social despair, the regime continues to offer more Marxism as the answer to the collapse.
And while the Party gathers in air-conditioned rooms to talk of "resistance" and "dignity," the people await light, bread, medicine, and transportation. Not slogans.
Cuba's Crisis and the Stance on Socialism
Why does the Cuban regime insist on socialism despite the crisis?
The Cuban government maintains socialism as the only path, seeing it as a guiding force towards collective well-being, despite the ongoing crisis.
What are the main challenges faced by Cubans during the current crisis?
Cubans are enduring extensive power outages, food and medicine shortages, a failed public transportation system, and economic hardships due to inflation.
How does the Cuban Constitution affect political alternatives?
The Constitution establishes socialism as "irrevocable" and enshrines the Communist Party as the only political force, removing any political alternatives.