In a recent appearance, Ángel Arzuaga Reyes, the Cuban regime's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, showcased the familiar tactics of so-called "revolutionary diplomacy."
During a televised interview in Santo Domingo on the news program El Día, the ambassador dismissed evidence of repression on the island, defended the communist one-party system, and offered a skewed version of history to rationalize the lack of political pluralism in Cuba.
Demonstrating the typical cynicism of the Cuban Foreign Ministry, led by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Arzuaga claimed that in Cuba "no one is imprisoned for their thoughts" and that elections are held every five years. However, he clarified that these elections occur without parties "contesting power," because, as he sees it, the "power belongs to the people."
He further contended that multiparty democracy "didn't work" in Cuba and that the current model enjoys widespread support.
While the presentation wasn't novel, it was revealing of the current climate. In recent years, the Dominican Republic has distanced itself from Havana, aligning more with U.S. policies in the Caribbean.
Against this backdrop, the ambassador sought to portray an image of institutional normalcy, contrasting sharply with the reality documented by international bodies and independent organizations.
The claim that no one in Cuba is jailed for their ideas is starkly contradicted by the numerous cases of opposition figures, activists, and independent journalists prosecuted under charges like "contempt," "public disorder," "enemy propaganda," or "assault."
The official stance, echoed by the diplomat when questioned about the repression of El4tico project members, is that it's not the thought that's punished, but the crime. In Cuba's legal framework, however, expressing political dissent can be interpreted, with significant flexibility, as criminal activity.
When asserting that elections occur in Cuba, the ambassador overlooked a critical element: there is no real political competition. The Communist Party of Cuba is the sole legally recognized entity, and the 2019 Constitution describes it as the "superior guiding force of society and the state."
In this institutional setup, political alternation is not an option but considered heretical. To equate this system with a plural democracy is at best a misleading rhetorical exercise.
The diplomat also defended the notion that multiparty systems historically failed on the island, thus justifying the one-party solution. This oversimplified narrative reduces the complex republican history to a binary story that dismisses everything before 1959.
More than six decades later, the political system's refusal to allow alternative party formation is not seen, in this logic, as a democratic shortcoming but as a preventative virtue.
Invoking the popular validation of the 2019 Constitution as conclusive proof of democratic pluralism demands a considerable leap of faith, another of the surreal moments delivered during his address.
The ambassador's tone swung between repeated slogans and categorical assertions, avoiding in-depth discussion of specific political detention cases. Rather than persuading, the speech seemed mired in outdated formulas.
In a regional context where several governments have hardened their stance against Havana, insisting that the one-party system is the ultimate expression of popular will and that freedom of expression faces no substantial limits sounds less like a strong argument and more like an out-of-date diplomatic manual.
The paradox is clear: while the ambassador talks of a system where the people wield power without party intermediaries, that same populace is unable to organize politically outside the official structure.
The narrative can be repeated with stubborn discipline, but the reality—ever more visible both inside and outside the island—is increasingly difficult to fit into slogans.
Key Questions on Cuba's Political System
Does Cuba have political pluralism?
Cuba operates under a one-party system where the Communist Party is the only legally recognized political entity, thus lacking political pluralism.
Are elections in Cuba free and competitive?
While Cuba holds elections every five years, there is no competition among political parties, as the Communist Party is the sole legal entity, limiting the elections' competitiveness.
What are common charges against political dissenters in Cuba?
Dissenters in Cuba are often charged with offenses like "contempt," "public disorder," "enemy propaganda," or "assault," which are used to suppress political expression.