The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac took to Facebook on Wednesday to unveil a satirical poster announcing the launch of the "Orthodontist Bembocratic Party." With the slogan "Down with spy flights and slogan-filled rhetoric," the campaign humorously encourages, "Enjoy and let others enjoy with the National Symphony."
This satirical move was a witty response to the real-life launch of the Cuban Liberal Orthodox Party (PLOC) by exiled activist Amelia Calzadilla on April 26 from Madrid, and the subsequent mockery by the state-run program Con Filo last Wednesday.
The poster features Toirac in a blue suit and red tie, posing as a professional candidate. In his accompanying text, he takes aim at two targets simultaneously: "Some do it to undermine, others to genuinely launch parties. The truth is, the groove is so deep in our hypothalamus that something routine elsewhere has become almost seismic here. So, I’m launching mine—a party 'Where fun comes first.'
Designed with a professional political campaign aesthetic and a tooth logo, the poster humorously yet revealingly promises proposals like "Chicken and Fish," "Good Work," and "Fun with Order."
The party's name cleverly plays on "bemba"—Cuban slang for mouth or lips—combined with "democratic" and "orthodontics," suggesting a need to "straighten out" political discourse in Cuba.
Spotlighting Structural Anomalies
Through his satire, Toirac highlights the structural anomalies of Cuba's system: the 2019 Constitution's Article 5 enshrines the Communist Party as the "superior guiding political force of society and the State," making the announcement of an alternative party—routine in any democracy—a nearly seismic event.
The post came a day after Con Filo hosts attempted to downplay the PLOC’s creation in a video circulated on social media, aiming to discredit the opposition initiative.
The official mockery backfired: Amelia Calzadilla firmly responded to Con Filo: "Their sarcastic reaction fills me with pride; it reflects how much it pains them to know that as a people, we are ready to welcome with open arms country projects not from those who've deprived us of everything."
Toirac's Continual Support and Satirical Critique
Toirac had previously supported Calzadilla in his signature style: "What's amusing is that 'the revolution has prepared her so well,'" he quipped, pointing out that the regime's own harassment forged the activist's opposition.
Toirac's approach embodies what Martí described in a New York chronicle on January 7, 1882, about the satirical newspaper Punch: "Punch follows men with a bundle of whips ending in bells." It’s criticism that stings, yet is wrapped in humor.
This isn't the first time the comedian has used irony as a tool for protest: Toirac declared himself a "beggar" to highlight Cuba's poverty and mocked the Central Bank's new floating rate with equal impact.
Understanding Toirac's Political Satire
Who is Ulises Toirac?
Ulises Toirac is a Cuban comedian known for his satirical approach to critiquing the Cuban government and societal issues through humor.
What is the Orthodontist Bembocratic Party?
The Orthodontist Bembocratic Party is a fictional party created by Toirac as a satirical commentary on Cuban politics, highlighting the need for change and humor in political discourse.
Why did Toirac create the satirical party?
Toirac launched the satirical party to mock the rigid political structure in Cuba and to respond humorously to both the real launch of the Cuban Liberal Orthodox Party and the official ridicule it received.