Cuba's leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has announced he will once again appear before the media this Friday, March 13, at 7:30 a.m. to discuss "national and international matters," as reported by the official outlet Cubadebate. The address will be broadcast nationwide on radio and television, as well as on state media's digital platforms.
This upcoming session is intended as a follow-up to his appearance on February 5, which sparked widespread criticism and mockery among Cubans on social media.
Even before this new address takes place, the announcement has already elicited a flood of comments filled with irony, skepticism, and fatigue from users reacting to Cubadebate's post.
Anticipation of More Empty Promises
Many Cubans foresee that the speech will lack any substantial announcements. "Just more of the same," wrote one user, while another sarcastically remarked, "I already know the tune."
Some even question if the address will be truly live. "Will it be recorded again?" asked one user, sparking similar responses like "Recorded once more."
Concerns Over Power Outages
The everyday hardships faced by millions of Cubans quickly surfaced in the reactions. Several users questioned whether they would have electricity to watch the broadcast, amid the prolonged power outages affecting much of the country.
"Will we have power to listen to him?" one woman wondered. Another comment joked, "We’ll watch if the power is on."
The Unlucky Timing of Friday the 13th
The choice of date for the address did not go unnoticed either. The fact that it falls on Friday the 13th prompted jokes and sarcastic remarks. "Friday the 13th... nothing good comes from that," wrote one user.
Some comments even predicted the content of the speech. "More creative resistance," one person quipped, referring to one of the most criticized phrases from official discourse about enduring the crisis.
Others were more blunt in their frustration. "In the end, nothing is ever said, and much less are solutions provided," lamented another user.
Echoes of Past Discontent
The announcement comes just weeks after the February 5 address, which incited a wave of indignant reactions during its live broadcast. At that time, many Cubans labeled the speech as "all talk," "lies," and "more of the same," feeling that Díaz-Canel spoke at length without offering concrete solutions to pressing issues like food shortages, power outages, lack of medicines, and the economic crisis.
Criticism also targeted the absence of independent media during the session and what many described as pre-prepared questions by official journalists.
With such a recent precedent, Díaz-Canel's new address is already seen on social media more as fodder for memes and sarcasm than as a source of genuine hope for a population weary of the ongoing crisis.
Now, many Cubans are hoping —at the very least— for electricity to be able to watch it. However, as numerous comments suggest, few expect to hear anything different from what they have heard for years.
Understanding Díaz-Canel's Public Addresses
Why are Cubans reacting with skepticism to Díaz-Canel's address?
Cubans are skeptical because previous addresses have been criticized for lacking concrete solutions to the country's pressing issues, such as food shortages and power outages, and for being repetitive.
What significance does the date, Friday the 13th, have in this context?
Friday the 13th is often associated with bad luck. In this context, it has been used by Cubans to sarcastically suggest that nothing good will come from the address.
What are the main criticisms of Díaz-Canel's previous speeches?
The main criticisms are that his speeches often lack actionable solutions to urgent problems and that they are perceived as repetitive and insincere, failing to address the real issues affecting Cubans.