Miguel Díaz-Canel concluded his political speech on Thursday with an appeal to the young people and citizens of Cuba, aiming to stir emotions and regain social support that the regime has largely lost.
"Unity is impossible without the youth. Continuity is impossible without them," he declared, reaching out to a demographic that has largely turned its back on the state project and is at the forefront of the largest migration wave in recent Cuban history since 2021.
In a broadcast on the Cuban Presidency's YouTube channel, Díaz-Canel praised the "heroism" of the Cuban people and insisted that Cuban resilience is about "creation, not endurance."
He emphasized that young people must be part of the popular participation concept, even though most face a nation lacking opportunities, with deteriorated educational facilities, inadequate wages, frequent power outages, and a political system intolerant of dissent.
These statements were made as Cuba braces for "more challenging times," amid worsening economic, energy, and social crises.
The Cuban Presidency labeled this speech as an exchange with both national and international media, but those labeled as international were just Cuban journalists aligned with the regime, contributing to RT, Xinhua in Spanish, and Prensa Latina.
"I'm not an idealist. I know we will face difficult times," the leader confessed, appealing to the people for "more confidence in the government," "more savings," and greater understanding of "restrictive measures." Furthermore, he announced that some "projects will need to be postponed."
Rather than inspiring hope, his address failed to resonate with young people, adults, and seniors alike, instead spreading more despair as it offered no solutions to Cuba's crisis in the short, medium, or long term.
Instead of rallying support, Díaz-Canel sparked a heated debate on social media against the regime. Thousands of young Cubans have left comments demanding the end of the dictatorship and the removal of a government that ignores them and excludes them from Cuba's future.
The State of Cuban Youth and Their Reaction to Political Appeals
Why did Díaz-Canel focus on the youth in his speech?
Díaz-Canel targeted the youth in his speech to try and regain their support, as they have been largely disillusioned with the state project and are leading a significant migration movement out of Cuba.
How did the Cuban public react to Díaz-Canel's speech?
The speech did not resonate positively with the Cuban public. Instead, it led to increased despair and criticism, particularly among the youth, who expressed their discontent on social media.
What challenges are young Cubans currently facing?
Young Cubans are confronted with a lack of opportunities, deteriorating educational infrastructure, insufficient wages, frequent power outages, and a political system that does not tolerate dissent.