Who is Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, the Supporter of Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta and Wife of Fidel Castro's Grandson

With a name that seems to emerge from a Soviet textbook, Marxlenin Pérez Valdés is not only a Doctor of Philosophical Sciences and a professor of Marxism at the University of Havana, but she is also married to Fidel Castro Smirnov. He is the grandson of the late dictator Fidel Castro Ruz and the son of his eldest child, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart.

Beyond her familial ties to Cuba's historic ruling class, she openly admires Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife, Lis Cuesta, flaunting smiling photos with them on her social media profiles.

From TV Host to Controversial Figure

As the host of the state television program “Cuadrando la Caja,” Marxlenin recently found herself at the center of controversy following a disastrous episode where an agricultural official suggested Cubans should eat less rice and potatoes since "they are not native products." This statement sparked widespread ridicule, outrage, and memes across the nation. However, instead of remaining silent, the host chose to defend her guest and criticized the detractors.

In a Facebook post, with comments disabled, she labeled those who questioned the statements as “worms” and urged them to watch “the full program to avoid being fooled by Chinese tales (like rice).” The irony of her comment was enough to make her trend online, as thousands of Cubans reminded her that rice is part of the national identity.

Advocate for Fidel Castro’s Legacy

This isn't the first occasion Marxlenin has found herself embroiled in controversy. Recently, she penned an article for Cubadebate titled “It Was Worth Living in Fidel's Century,” where she called for turning to the “horse, the genius,” as she referred to the dictator, to address Cuba's current crisis. According to her, Castro's “legacy” remains the country’s revolutionary compass.

The article, coinciding with the anniversary of Fidel Castro's speech at the University of Havana, was met with a flood of criticism and sarcasm on social media. Many Cubans were quick to remind her that the “genius” she heralds as a solution was the very one who left the country in shambles.

Unwavering Support for Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta

Adding to this, Marxlenin doesn’t shy away from expressing her devotion to Miguel Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta. Her social media is filled with photos smiling alongside them, and she welcomes them warmly on the show she hosts, where, according to her, “consensus is debated from Cuban socialism.”

In a country where most people struggle with food and medicine shortages, power outages, inflation, and endless lines, the presenter’s posts come across as mockery. While her name might sound like it belongs to a satirical character, Marxlenin Pérez Valdés is all too real: a woman with revolutionary pedigree, a university position, and an officialist rhetoric, embodying the disconnected world of the elite who thrive on justifying the unjustifiable.