In a ceremonious event this Wednesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel was presented with a "documentary sample" of over 6.2 million signatures collected during the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign. This was reported by the Communist Party of Cuba on their social media, intentionally aligning with the anniversary of Cuba's formal independence in 1902.
The event was attended by key state and party figures: Manuel Marrero Cruz, the Prime Minister; Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State; and Roberto Morales Ojeda, the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee.
The official statement from the PCC described those who handed over the signatures as "representatives of Cuban Society," a term that raises eyebrows in a nation where there is no recognized independent civil society.
All mass organizations—such as the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the Federation of Cuban Women, the Central Workers' Union of Cuba, and the Union of Young Communists—are subservient to the Communist Party and the State, as stipulated by Article 7 of the 2019 Constitution.
The regime employs "civil society" rhetoric to create an illusion of spontaneity and pluralism, in what is essentially an orchestrated mobilization by the single-party structure.
The campaign, initiated by the PCC on April 19 to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, saw Díaz-Canel as the first to sign the following day at the Ciénaga de Zapata Memorial Museum in Matanzas, where he asserted that "the Cuban Revolution will never negotiate its principles."
By May 1, the government boasted of collecting 6,230,973 signatures, a figure that Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla claimed represented 81% of Cubans over the age of 16.
However, with an estimated population of around 9.7 million—rapidly declining due to mass emigration since 2021—these numbers appear statistically dubious.
The campaign faced widespread criticism for its coercive nature almost immediately.
Reports from Matanzas, Bayamo, Cárdenas, and Havana indicated that state enterprise managers pressured workers to sign, with directives to ensure at least 80% participation under threat of job loss.
A leaked audio on May 2 revealed the charade, featuring a Revolutionary Armed Forces official bluntly warning: "Anyone who disagrees should resign."
Analysts and opposition figures, including Manuel Cuesta Morúa, denounced the campaign as a "farce," pointing out that it mirrors the Castro regime's historical pattern: facing external pressure—this time, the tightening of the embargo under the Trump administration—the regime resorts to mass mobilization as a tool for internal legitimacy and international projection.
The PCC concluded its publication by stating that the campaign "demonstrated the relevance of Martí and Fidel’s ideals," once again co-opting national symbols to mask what opponents and analysts describe as a power display and a charade lacking genuine citizen support.
Understanding Cuba's "Signatures for the Homeland" Campaign
What was the purpose of the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign?
The campaign aimed to demonstrate support for the Cuban government amidst external pressures, particularly the tightened embargo by the Trump administration, by collecting signatures as a show of mass mobilization.
Why is there skepticism about the number of signatures collected?
There is doubt due to the calculated figure of 6,230,973 signatures, which represents 81% of Cubans over 16. Given Cuba’s declining population driven by mass emigration, these numbers appear statistically questionable.
How did the campaign align with Cuba's historical dates?
The campaign was launched on April 19 to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, a significant historical event for Cuba, thereby leveraging nationalistic sentiments.