A Facebook poll conducted by Cuban activist Elieser El Bayardo, asking "Do you want Díaz-Canel out of power?" has sparked widespread attention, becoming a viral sensation over the weekend. The survey gathered thousands of comments in just a few hours, with a resounding majority of respondents from the island expressing their desire for the Cuban president to step down.
The timing of the poll is notable, coming just a day after Díaz-Canel, in an interview with NBC News, asserted that resignation was "not part of our vocabulary." He stated he would only consider stepping down if "the Cuban people understand that I am unfit for the position." This marked his first appearance on U.S. network television since Fidel Castro's appearance on "Meet the Press" in 1959.
El Bayardo emphasized the significance of this exercise, saying, "It might seem trivial, but it's not. In just 3 hours, there were over 8,000 comments, and almost 95% said yes, he should leave power. I can also assure you that more than 59% of the views came from Cuba."
This statistic is particularly telling given that over half of those who viewed the poll are within Cuba, where internet access is limited and digital repression is on the rise, adding a symbolic weight to the exercise despite its informal and non-binding nature.
Voices of Frustration and Irony
Comments from Cubans ranged from sarcasm to genuine frustration. One user remarked, "Even he knows the answer." Another was more direct, stating, "I want him out of the life and history of Cubans." A third expressed their sentiment in multiple languages: "Yes, Yes, Oui, Sì, Sim, Ja... there’s my answer in 10 languages. It's not that I'm a polyglot; I just wanted it understood worldwide."
Humor was not absent: "Surely yes, but he shouldn't go alone; take the whole troop with him." And there was straightforward irony: "I think that question is redundant."
Others pointed out that the issue is deeper than one individual. "We all want this, but changing one person for another doesn't solve anything. We need democracy and justice," one participant wrote. Another summed up the sentiment of many with, "The most important thing is a free and democratic Cuba; in the end, one appointed position can be replaced by another. Patria y Vida."
The Broader Context of Political Discontent
This poll emerges amid a backdrop of growing discontent. In his conversation with Kristen Welker, Díaz-Canel not only dismissed resignation but responded with visible irritation: "Do you ask Trump that question? Does it come from the U.S. State Department?" Welker replied that she had posed equally tough questions to Trump and other leaders.
El Bayardo's poll serves as the response that Cubans could not directly give to their leader: the very question he dodged on television, answered by thousands inside and outside the island. This is in addition to the ongoing protests since July 2021, which have persisted despite constant repression.
This isn't the first instance of such a reaction. In January, a 24-year-old woman from Santiago de Cuba was summoned by State Security and forced to delete a viral Facebook poll that asked people to choose between Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, or Díaz-Canel. The pattern is clear: whenever an informal space for expression opens, the rejection of the leader is overwhelming. Will he ever listen to his people?
Understanding Cuban Sentiment Toward Díaz-Canel
What prompted the viral poll about Díaz-Canel?
The poll was initiated by Cuban activist Elieser El Bayardo on Facebook, questioning Díaz-Canel's leadership. It went viral due to the widespread frustration and desire for change expressed by Cubans, especially following Díaz-Canel's remarks in a U.S. television interview.
How does the poll reflect the current political climate in Cuba?
The poll reflects a significant level of discontent and desire for democratic reform among Cubans. It highlights the ongoing dissatisfaction with the current leadership and the call for greater freedom and justice within the country.