Díaz-Canel Advocates for "Mindset Shift" as a Solution to Cuba's Crisis

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has once again emphasized the need for a "mindset shift" as the essential solution to the severe crisis gripping Cuba. During an Extraordinary Plenary of the PCC Provincial Committee in Cienfuegos, the leader urged party members to take on a more proactive role at the grassroots level and to be pioneers in boosting national production.

"What role should party members play in grassroots organization regarding these objectives we're setting?" Díaz-Canel questioned the attendees. "If we declare that enhancing national production is a priority because we will only have goods and consumption based on what we can produce and offer, the first ones to critically discuss this at the core should be the party members. They should also be the first to lead productive or service-oriented workplaces. Otherwise, it's just rhetoric without results," the leader asserted, as broadcasted by Canal Caribe.

The meeting, showcased on social media by the Communist Party of Cuba, was described as a "profound and self-critical" analysis of the militancy's role in meeting national priorities. Díaz-Canel stressed that the Party's efforts should focus on transforming "ways of thinking" and "methods of action," while acknowledging that not all the country's issues stem from the U.S. embargo. Yet, his speech avoided concrete references to the structural causes of the crisis or proposed any immediate economic measures.

In another part of his address, Díaz-Canel highlighted priority tasks such as food production and the energy sector, emphasizing the need to empower municipalities for greater autonomy. "The required mindset," he stated, "is about seeking out opportunities, thinking differently, always aiming for prosperity. If a municipality prospers, so will the province and the country." This idea, portrayed as an invitation to "think differently," was labeled by the Cuban Presidency as a "key to success," though it lacked details on how municipalities might actually achieve this autonomy.

Díaz-Canel's persistent call for a "mindset shift" comes as the government itself acknowledges the dire national situation. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz recently conceded that Cuba is facing "a wartime economy" and warned that 2026 will be particularly challenging, characterized by scarcity, inflation, and declining production. Despite this, both Marrero and Díaz-Canel continue to focus on ideological discourse and appeal to the party's consciousness as the main driver of change.

The leader's message adds to a series of recent appeals urging communist militants to "lead the way in problem-solving," which have sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Many Cubans criticize Díaz-Canel for being out of touch with reality. "The problem in Cuba is you, the communists; just relinquishing power would resolve it," a user remarked on social media platform X, echoing public frustration with official calls to endure without tangible changes.

While the Party's leadership insists that change starts with the mind, the majority of Cubans deal with a daily reality marked by power outages, food shortages, and a rapid decline in basic services. In this context, Díaz-Canel's call for a "mindset shift" appears increasingly disconnected from the country's reality, where the issue seems less about mindset and more about the very political and economic system he supports.