In a recent interview with CiberCuba, Cuban writer and political analyst Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo expressed his view that the current Cuban political system can no longer be categorized as either a revolution or a dictatorship. Instead, he describes it as something qualitatively different and more severe: a regime that is "disconnected from reality" and has lost all ability to govern effectively.
Pardo Lazo stated, "There is no longer a revolution in Cuba, nor a dictatorship. What exists is a regime detached from reality, unable to provide water, healthcare, sanitation, electricity, education, sports, television—essentially anything."
The writer's conclusion is unequivocal: "This regime does not belong to the realm of the real world."
A Dire Situation for the Cuban People
Pardo Lazo frames his analysis within a broader reflection on what the Cuban people deserve after seven decades of suffering. "I don't believe anyone deserves to live a life that is unlivable. The Cuban people don't deserve this after 70 years of revolution or dictatorship, whatever you call it," he asserted.
For the analyst, the complete inability to provide basic services is not just a temporary crisis but a sign that the regime has entered a terminal phase. "The regime in Havana is transitional; this is what this historical moment calls for," he claimed.
Staggering Deficits Highlight the Collapse
The collapse that Pardo Lazo describes is backed by concrete figures. As of June 2026, Cuba faces electric generation deficits exceeding 2,000 MW during peak hours, with availability at a mere 1,000 MW against a demand of over 3,000 MW.
Approximately 2.7 million people on the island suffer from a complete lack of potable water, while around 10 million experience intermittent supply, according to official data.
The United Nations launched a $94.1 million assistance plan in March to aid two million Cubans across 63 municipalities, describing the situation as a crisis of "systemic and growing humanitarian impact."
More than 96,000 surgeries have been postponed, including about 11,000 pediatric ones, according to a report on the humanitarian crisis in Cuba cited by the UN in April.
International Tensions and Internal Silence
Pardo Lazo's analysis comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana, highlighted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's visit to the Guantanamo Naval Base, where he emphasized that the U.S. is "reclaiming our hemisphere."
The Cuban regime dismissed Hegseth's statements as "completely misguided" through its UN representative, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán.
In this context, Pardo Lazo also addressed the regime's ability to negotiate a way out, offering a similarly harsh assessment: "We are in a country not only politically leaderless but also without a voice."
Regarding Miguel Díaz-Canel, the author was blunt: "He hasn't uttered a single word, not even the order to fight."
The intellectual called for someone within the regime to take the initiative to speak directly to the Cuban people and acknowledge the system's failures: "They need to say at this moment, 'we failed.'"
According to the writer, whoever takes this historic step "will gain two million followers on the first day and become a total symbolic force."
Understanding Cuba's Current Crisis
What is Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo's view on the Cuban regime?
Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo believes the Cuban regime is neither a revolution nor a dictatorship but a system disconnected from reality, incapable of governing effectively.
What are the key challenges facing Cuba according to the article?
Cuba faces significant challenges, including severe deficits in electricity generation, a lack of potable water, and postponed medical surgeries, all of which highlight the regime's inability to provide basic services.
How does the international community view the crisis in Cuba?
The international community, including the United Nations, recognizes the situation in Cuba as a growing humanitarian crisis, evidenced by initiatives such as the $94.1 million assistance plan to support affected Cubans.