Cuban Leader Faces Social Media Backlash: Calls for Political Change Surge

Once again, Miguel Díaz-Canel has sparked widespread backlash on social media after sharing a video of his involvement in the National Defense Day, held on February 13 in the Cerro district of Havana.

In his post, shared across his official accounts, the Cuban leader stated, “Today we took part in National Defense Day. We were at the ‘Armada’ Defense Zone, in the Cerro district, and spent the day preparing alongside workers and community members, as part of our concept of a War of All the People.”

The post, which included images of him in military attire greeting soldiers, quickly amassed thousands of reactions and comments. The dominant tone among users was one of criticism, mockery, and discontent.

Many comments directly questioned the notion of a “War of All the People.” One user wrote, “What war of all the people? They’re coming for you, stop lying to the people.” Another remarked, “You keep making a grave mistake; this is not the people's war. I’m also part of the people but have nothing to defend. Don’t speak for me.”

Comparisons to Venezuela and the recent detention of Nicolás Maduro were frequent. “I recently saw this in Venezuela,” one user noted, while another said, “This is how it started in Venezuela when they already had it coming.” A similar sentiment read, “Maduro fell. It’ll be easier to capture you.”

Some comments poked fun at the physical condition and age of those participating in the maneuvers. A user wrote, “Army of old men.” Another added, “A visit to the nursing home.” Other remarks included: “The circle of grandparents” and “Those uniforms look like they’re from 1901.”

Many messages criticized the government’s priorities amidst an economic crisis. A commenter asked, “Where is the electricity, the food, and everything that’s missing in this country? What are you defending, the sadness, the misery, and the darkness?” Another pointed out, “There are weapons, but no energy, no food, and healthcare is in shambles.” A similar sentiment was, “Stop focusing on war and think about the Cuban people; war is not needed now.”

There were also explicit calls for political change. “Please resign and call for free elections. It’s time to reduce the pain, even if the U.S. has caused it. The time is now,” a user wrote. Another expressed, “Let go of power and stop holding the Cuban people hostage.”

In contrast, pro-government profiles defended the event and the government's stance. A commenter affirmed, “We will continue preparing to defend the homeland, the Revolution, and socialism at any cost!” Another stated, “Preparation for Defense is vital; we will never surrender.” Messages like “Long live Socialist Cuba! Cuba will prevail” and “Prepared and Alert!!!” were also posted.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that a post related to military exercises has sparked a similar reaction. At the end of January, following another similar message, thousands of users responded with irony and questions against a backdrop of power outages, shortages, and social discontent.

During that time, the leader cited Fidel Castro and shared images of military maneuvers, prompting comments like, “The only thing the Cuban people need defense from is you.” The scene has repeated itself, with responses blending ideological support and a significant volume of criticism and ridicule.

While the official discourse emphasizes preparation for potential external aggression, many comments focus on everyday shortages and the disconnect between the defense narrative and the reality many citizens describe on social media.