Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac recently entered the ongoing discussion about multiparty politics in Cuba with a satirical twist. In a humorous Facebook post, he announced the creation of the "Partido Ortodoncista Bembócrático," complete with the slogan "Down with spy flights and sloganeering" and the campaign chant "Enjoy and let enjoy with the National Symphony."
The campaign poster, styled like a professional political advertisement, features a tooth logo and a playful platform of proposals: "Chicken and Fish," "Good Jobs," and "Orderly Fun." The party’s name cleverly merges Cuban slang for mouth, "bemba," with "democratic" and "orthodontics," suggesting a need to "straighten out" Cuba’s political discourse.
Behind the humor, Toirac highlighted a deeper issue: "Some do it to undermine, others to genuinely launch parties. The fact is, it's so deeply ingrained in our minds that something ordinary in any other country has become nearly seismic here."
His post was an ironic response to the uproar following exiled activist Amelia Calzadilla's announcement from Madrid about forming the Cuban Liberal Orthodox Party, a center-right liberal party. Just three days later, the state-run program Con Filo mocked the initiative on social media, inadvertently fueling the conversation further.
Toirac critiqued both the regime's exaggerated reaction to the mere formation of a political party and the overly serious reception by some to his joke. This isn't the first time Toirac has used irony to underscore the contradictions in the Cuban system.
The post sparked a debate in the comments, with some followers taking it seriously and others responding solemnly. Toirac retorted, highlighting the deep-rooted education that enforces seriousness and intolerance: "It's... beautiful... to see how deeply ingrained is the education foreign to the Cuban character... That which imposes seriousness, intransigence, and 'it's not the historical moment' on so many."
He was clear about his disinterest in politics: "I assure you from the depths of my heels that you won't see me — not leading — not even joining a party. Not even those led by friends or people I believe do it well. None."
He deemed it "pathetic" to become serious about such a "joking" post and urged his followers to "learn to live with freedom of expression and democracy" and to "get a sense of humor detector (if nature didn’t provide one)."
The crux of the joke lies in a constitutional anomaly: the 2019 Cuban Constitution's Article 5 enshrines the Communist Party as "the superior leading political force of society and the State," making the mere announcement of an alternative party almost seismic. Calzadilla, meanwhile, responded to Con Filo's mockery with a telling remark: "Con Filo's sarcastic reaction fills me with pride; it reflects how much it pains them to know that we, as a people, are ready to welcome projects that don't come from those who have deprived us of everything."
In February 2026, Toirac summed up his political stance with the phrase "Neither with the Indians nor the cowboys... I stand with the Cubans." He had previously reacted to the PLOC announcement with another irony: "What's juicy is that 'the revolution prepared her so well,'" referring to how the regime's harassment shaped Calzadilla as a dissident.
Understanding Ulises Toirac's Political Satire
What is the "Partido Ortodoncista Bembócrático"?
It is a satirical party created by Ulises Toirac to humorously critique the political climate in Cuba, suggesting a need to "straighten" political discourse.
How did Ulises Toirac respond to critics of his satire?
Toirac emphasized that his post was meant to be humorous and criticized the serious reactions, urging people to embrace freedom of expression and humor.
What constitutional issue does Toirac's satire highlight?
His satire underscores the Cuban Constitution's Article 5, which establishes the Communist Party as the leading force, making alternative political party announcements significant events.