Amidst Cuba's severe economic hardships, leader Miguel Díaz-Canel continues to rely on the regime's hollow rhetoric, declaring that "it can be done." During the Friday session closing of the National Assembly, he proclaimed, “On July 26 in Ciego de Ávila, we will celebrate the certainty that it can be done. History attests to it, and the present confirms it.”
Díaz-Canel expressed gratitude “on behalf of the Party and the government to the entire Cuban populace for their resilience amidst numerous challenges, their endless creativity, and their refusal to give up when everything is scarce, sometimes even essential communication.” He also mentioned upcoming celebrations for the late dictator Fidel Castro's centenary, stating that “the best tribute (...) is the work of the Cuban people.”
Endorsing Dollarization Amidst Crisis
In his National Assembly address, Díaz-Canel justified the partial dollarization of Cuba's economy as a necessary measure to navigate the island's deep economic crisis. “To manage this crisis, we have had to accept partial dollarization,” he stated on Friday.
He acknowledged that this situation exacerbates social inequalities within the country. “This undeniably benefits those with certain capital resources or those receiving remittances, leading to an undesirable widening of social inequality gaps,” Díaz-Canel added.
The regime's leader admitted the grim reality faced by Cubans, which has worsened during his tenure, yet he took no responsibility for it. “The heavy reliance on imports and the adverse effects caused by the instability of the national electric power system lead to significant economic slowdown, resulting in a shortage of goods and services for the population and a contraction in exports,” he described.
“Consequently, the importation of essential food supplies for basic needs and the fuel required for electricity generation and economic functioning is limited,” he continued. He highlighted “the scarce availability of medications and the reduction of transportation services, solid waste collection, and water supply, among others, creating the harsh daily reality our people face.”
Facing Challenges with Resilience
To address inequality, Díaz-Canel stated that “we need to enhance the effectiveness of the state's redistributive social function,” without specifying how he plans to achieve this, given his administration's past failures.
He also claimed that “it’s not the first time, nor will it be the last, that the Cuban revolution faces its most difficult moment.” In his speech, he justified the country's complex current situation by appealing to a historical context of “resistance.”
Díaz-Canel compared the current economic and social challenges to other critical times in Cuban history, such as the “pact of Zanjón,” the fall of independence leaders, or the U.S. intervention, asserting that the Cuban people are prepared for present and future crises.
He defended the regime's “authenticity” and criticized comparisons of current times to the period before Fidel Castro’s rise to power, suggesting such comparisons “conceal the misery” of that era. As in other instances of his leadership, Díaz-Canel attributed most problems to external factors, specifically highlighting the “suffocating economic blockade” by the United States and Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He claimed these measures “amplify the blockade policy to unprecedented levels” and have a “multiplied impact” on the economy and the population's living standards.
Understanding Cuba’s Economic Challenges
What measures has Díaz-Canel proposed to address Cuba's economic crisis?
Díaz-Canel has defended the partial dollarization of the economy as a means to navigate the crisis, despite acknowledging that it increases social inequalities.
How does Díaz-Canel justify the current economic and social situation in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel attributes many of the issues to external factors, such as the U.S. economic blockade and Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, which he claims exacerbate the country's struggles.