The unexpected sighting of former Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque in a photo published by the BBC has sparked a buzz across social media platforms.
Pérez Roque was "unexpectedly" captured on camera amidst the crowd attending a tribute for the 32 Cuban soldiers who lost their lives in Venezuela. The bodies were returned to Havana this Thursday.
The photograph was taken on Avenida Rancho Boyeros, likely near Tulipán. The ex-minister appeared alongside a group of workers participating in the funeral procession honoring the fallen soldiers.
He was dressed in a gray t-shirt, showing a weary face and a look of exhaustion. Positioned in the second row, he stood behind individuals carrying a Cuban flag and images of Fidel and Raúl Castro, the very leaders who once ousted him from power.
The scene has triggered strong reactions on social media. "It takes a lot of nerve to show up there after everything they did to him. Clearly, he deserved the punishment and more,” commented one user.
As an electronic engineer, Pérez Roque was a pivotal figure in Cuban political power during the 1990s and the early 2000s. He initially rose to prominence as a leader of the Federation of University Students, quickly climbing the ranks to become Cuba’s foreign minister in 1999. Yet, in 2009, his career came to an abrupt halt as he was removed from his position.
Fidel Castro delivered harsh words about him in the national press: "The honey of power, for which they did not know any sacrifice, awakened ambitions in them (Felipe and Carlos Lage) that led them to play an unworthy role. The external enemy was filled with illusions about them."
Felipe Pérez Roque's Impact and Downfall
Who is Felipe Pérez Roque?
Felipe Pérez Roque is a former Cuban Foreign Minister who played a significant role in the political landscape of Cuba during the 1990s and early 2000s. He was an influential figure until his abrupt dismissal in 2009.
Why is Pérez Roque's appearance in Havana significant?
His appearance in Havana is significant because it marks a rare public sighting after his fall from grace in 2009. The context of a tribute to fallen soldiers adds emotional and political layers to his presence.
What led to Felipe Pérez Roque's dismissal?
Pérez Roque was dismissed due to ambitions deemed inappropriate, as stated by Fidel Castro, suggesting that power had corrupted his and Carlos Lage's intentions, leading to their removal from political positions.