Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer responded Thursday to Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel's recent televised appearance, asserting that the Cuban people neither want nor believe in the regime.
"For those who anticipated something new from the broadcast of the handpicked dictator, Miguel Díaz-Canel, there you have it: the same rhetoric, the same tired speech as always," Ferrer declared in a statement following the leader's televised address.
As the head of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), Ferrer harshly criticized both the content and the tone of Díaz-Canel’s speech, describing it as completely disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the country.
"It's as if they don't live on this planet or even in this solar system... They believe someone supports them, that the people love them, but they know the people despise them, do not want them, hate them, and want to see them removed from power," he claimed.
Ferrer also pointed out that Díaz-Canel and his inner circle depend on the support of allied governments to maintain their hold on power.
He mentioned "the tyrannies of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Vietnam," along with leftist Latin American leaders such as Claudia Sheinbaum, Gustavo Petro, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accusing them of maintaining ties with the Cuban regime.
The opposition figure further noted that the regime believes it can withstand both internal pressures and U.S. sanctions. However, he warned that "the United States is not playing games" and that, for the first time, there is "a government truly in solidarity with the Cuban people."
"They think they can continue oppressing the Cuban people, surviving past Donald Trump's administration, and remain in power indefinitely. But they are mistaken. The Cuban people do not want them," Ferrer stated.
Ferrer’s comments came on the same day Díaz-Canel delivered an extensive televised address acknowledging the severity of the energy crisis and once again calling for "sacrifices" from the population.
Ferrer’s response highlights the growing discontent both on and off the island toward Díaz-Canel’s speech, seen as a repetition of unfulfilled promises amid the ongoing economic and social collapse of the nation.
Understanding the Cuban Political Climate
Who is José Daniel Ferrer?
José Daniel Ferrer is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and a prominent opposition figure against the Cuban government.
What did Miguel Díaz-Canel address in his speech?
Miguel Díaz-Canel's speech addressed the severe energy crisis in Cuba, calling for more sacrifices from the Cuban population.
How does Ferrer view Díaz-Canel's leadership?
Ferrer views Díaz-Canel's leadership as disconnected from the realities faced by Cubans, and he believes the Cuban people do not support or believe in the regime.