Sandro Castro Claims to Be "A Humble Man of the People" and Shares His Perspective

Sandro Castro, the grandson of Fidel Castro and a Cuban influencer, describes himself as "a humble person" and denies receiving any special treatment due to his last name. He insists he lives like any other ordinary Cuban, enduring the same hardships, including power outages.

During an interview with Colombia's Red+ Noticias, Sandro emphasized his modest lifestyle in his Havana apartment, dismissing claims of privilege associated with his family heritage.

The interview, conducted on Tuesday from Havana, was frequently disrupted by electricity cuts, a fact Sandro used to support his claims.

Life in Havana: Struggles and Reality

"I'm just a regular person living humbly in my apartment," Sandro stated. "I experience power cuts and face challenges like everyone else. Of course, many people suffer far worse," he added.

When asked if he considers himself privileged, Sandro was firm: "I have no special privileges or immunity. I am proudly a man of the people, 100% Cuban."

He further claimed to navigate Havana without an escort: "I move freely. I walk around with no security, no privileges."

The Contrast Between Words and Actions

Despite these declarations, the disparity between his words and his lifestyle is apparent. Sandro owns Bar EFE in Vedado, charging 1,000 Cuban pesos for a monthly entry and requiring a minimum table spend of 15,000 pesos, which exceeds two average Cuban salaries of 6,500 pesos.

He openly acknowledged Cuba's dire situation: "There's a collapse, a real collapse, but it's not permanent." He expressed urgency for economic reforms, stating, "There's an urgent need, brother. Urgent, urgent," and criticized the excessive bureaucracy that he believes hampers progress.

Cautious Critique of the Regime

Regarding his stance on the government, Sandro admitted to making "a subliminal, yet subtle critique," explaining his cautious approach: "I don't engage in violence or aggressive acts; I respect the government because I live here on the island."

When questioned about whether Miguel Díaz-Canel should step down, Sandro sidestepped the question, citing power outages as a reason, highlighting one of the most revealing parts of the interview.

Reflections on International Politics

Regarding Donald Trump's remarks that Cuba could follow Nicolás Maduro's fate, Sandro described Trump as "an unpredictable person" and advised taking such statements as cautionary, "but not as a war threat, as long as dialogue and sovereignty exist."

He also denied having access to his family's inner political circle: "I practically have no closeness to those matters. As a young person, I lead my independent life."

The interview with Red+ Noticias comes during a week of unusual media exposure for the 33-year-old.

Last Tuesday, CNN featured an interview from his Havana apartment, showing unpainted walls and an almost empty fridge, where he criticized Díaz-Canel: "In my view, he's not doing a good job."

Additionally, he stated that "most Cubans want to be capitalists," not communists. He revealed being called by State Security for satirical videos, though he was released with a warning.

On March 22, The New York Times published a detailed profile titled "Fidel's Grandson Who Satirizes the Regime from Privilege."

His closing message to Cuban youth encapsulated the interview's tone: "Never lose faith. Gradually, we will achieve positive change."