Top Expert Suggests Barring Regime Elites from Voting in a Free Cuba

Alberto Luzárraga, a banking expert and scholar of Cuba's 1940 Constitution, recently suggested in an interview with Tania Costa that high-ranking officials from the current regime should be disqualified from voting in a future liberated Cuba.

"In my view, those occupying top positions in the regime, the upper echelons of the nomenclature, should be barred from voting. These individuals have been doing everything to ensure the system's dysfunction and have thus disqualified themselves," Luzárraga stated.

With 35 years of banking experience across the United States and Latin America, as well as a doctorate in Cuban Law, Luzárraga acknowledged the internal conflict his proposal causes. "I don't like taking away anyone's right to vote, but there are people who simply don't deserve it."

To provide clarity, Luzárraga emphasized the need for a "sensible and intelligent delineation" of the nomenclature levels to determine who should be excluded from voting.

Ensuring Effective Free Elections

Luzárraga also stressed the necessity of a rigorous electoral roll for effective free elections in Cuba. "For elections to be genuinely free and effective, there must be a thorough electoral register."

In the interview, the ideal profile for a transitional Cuban president was also discussed. When asked, Luzárraga humorously ruled out his own candidacy, saying, "I’m too old for that. I’m too impatient to be president. Ministers wouldn’t last long under me."

Regarding the type of leader Cuba needs, Luzárraga was clear: "We need someone cultured, sensible, and balanced. Someone who can understand people, possesses interpersonal skills, and can accurately assess others."

He cautioned, however, that finding such a leader would not be easy. "Many appear to be good people but are not. It’s challenging and requires balance. You have to be educational, patient, and communicate with the public regularly and clearly."

The Broader Context of Cuban Democratic Transition

These insights contribute to the broader debate on Cuba's democratic transition, gaining momentum in 2026. In March of that year, Cuban exiles in Miami signed the Liberation Agreement, outlining phases for liberation, stabilization, reconstruction, and democratization with internationally supervised elections.

The agreement was reaffirmed by Cuban opposition in Madrid on June 1, signaling unity among exiles on a common roadmap. During this period, Julio Shiling publicly advocated for reverting to the 1940 Constitution as the legal foundation for Cuba's transition.

Additionally, on June 1, Rosa María Payá expressed optimism, stating, "We have never been closer" to change in Cuba, reflecting growing hope among exiles in the current political climate.