On February 14, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel shared a Valentine's Day message on social media platform X, quoting lines from the poet Dulce María Loynaz and extending his well wishes to those "who love and build in challenging times."
The post quickly sparked a wave of critical responses from Cuban users, with one comment capturing the thread's sentiment: "Love means leaving. It's about relinquishing power and returning the homeland to those who truly care."
Díaz-Canel's post included a verse: "Love is untangling the knots of paths in the dark... Love is being the path and the ladder! Love is this loving what pains us, what bleeds us from within..." He coupled this with a message celebrating those who "love and construct" in tough times.
However, the replies largely focused on challenging his leadership and the political system. User @Alex_Olvidar stated, "Love means leaving. It's about letting go of power... Leave the power, let people live. That would be a true act of love," further adding, "You don't love Cuba, you love governing it."
Another comment by @pallenarelsaco sarcastically linked love to power and money, demanding the release of "more than a thousand political prisoners in Cuba" and declaring that the current "model" is "unviable."
A different Cuban criticized the stark contrast between the romantic message and the country's reality, labeling it with an insult and predicting it will be remembered negatively in history.
In a similar vein, another user pointed out that power has not been relinquished "for 67 years," cited migration as a cause of family separation, and claimed there are "more than 1,200" people imprisoned "for police reasons." The user also alleged that "89%" of the population lives in "extreme poverty," presenting these figures as part of their response to the post.
Yet another account questioned, "Where is the love for those who think differently?" accusing Díaz-Canel of holding "more than 1,000 political prisoners" and launching direct insults.
Cuban Leader's Valentine's Day Message Sparks Controversy
What was Díaz-Canel's Valentine's Day message about?
Díaz-Canel's message, shared on the social media platform X, included verses by Dulce María Loynaz and wished well to those "who love and build in challenging times."
How did Cuban users react to Díaz-Canel's post?
Cuban users responded with criticism, urging Díaz-Canel to relinquish power, release political prisoners, and address the nation's issues. They highlighted the contrast between his message and Cuba's reality.
What specific criticisms were made against Díaz-Canel?
Critics called for him to step down, accused him of loving power more than the country, and demanded the release of political prisoners. They also criticized the economic and political state of Cuba.