Official Spokesperson Defends Díaz-Canel: "The Revolution Endures Despite Its Gravediggers"

In a bold defense of Miguel Díaz-Canel, a prominent figure from Cuba's state-run media declared, "The Revolution endures, despite its gravediggers." This statement, shared on Facebook, unintentionally provides a glimpse into the harsh realities of Cuba, a nation where the author herself admits, "people have more urgent matters to attend to."

Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, host of the government-backed program Cuadrando la Caja, holds a Ph.D. in Philosophical Sciences and is married to Fidel Castro Smirnov, the grandson of Fidel Castro. She penned an article titled "Expectations" in support of President Miguel Díaz-Canel's recent televised announcement of economic reforms.

Defending Economic Reforms Amid Skepticism

The spokesperson concedes that the president's announcements were "merely a sketch of what we should soon know in more detail." Nevertheless, she launches into a lengthy diatribe against skeptics, labeling them as "mercenaries," "theorists without achievements," promoters of "neoliberal and capitulative agendas," and those who "try to discredit the president, who remains steadfast in his battle."

Valdés reserves the term "legitimate" for those concerned about the future of socialism and who refuse to stand idle at the prospect of losing their social justice project.

The irony of Valdés' message lies in her call for "developing the necessary awareness" and rallying expectations in defense of the nation, while admitting that in reality, Cubans "have more urgent matters to attend to." For instance, nearly one in three Cuban households reported at least one member going to bed hungry in the past month, as per recent findings by the Food Monitor Program.

The Stark Reality of Everyday Life in Cuba

This "real life" includes power outages ranging from twenty to twenty-five hours daily in some areas, with others experiencing over 40 hours; an annual inflation rate of 13.42% in March 2026; and a 31.9% increase in non-state agricultural market prices. According to the VIII Report on the State of Social Rights in Cuba, 89% of Cuban families live in extreme poverty, and over 1.4 million Cubans have emigrated between 2020 and 2024.

Díaz-Canel's proposed reforms—granting more autonomy to state enterprises, unblocking micro, small, and medium enterprises, and removing intermediaries in foreign trade—were met with lukewarm responses. Economist Pedro Monreal called them a "worn-out trick," while others described them as "too little, too late, and poorly executed." These measures still require approval from the Political Bureau and the National Assembly, scheduled for July.

Valdés' Unwavering Loyalty

Valdés also addressed the memes that flooded social media following Díaz-Canel's televised appearance—disheveled, thin, and haggard-looking—arguing that those who focus on his appearance would have criticized him regardless, even if he resembled Richard Gere. Her defense is imaginative, if nothing else.

This isn't the first time Valdés has made headlines. In December 2025, she called critics on social media "worms" following a suggestion on her program to avoid eating rice and potatoes. In March 2026, during a tour of 18 Spanish cities, she declared that private businesses in Cuba "will be created to disappear."

The post's comments section lacked enthusiasm. One user asked, "Develop awareness? At this point and with empty stomachs? Why don't they listen? Why always wait for a crisis?" Another succinctly stated, "I'll read it when I want to sleep, and there's no light." A third, with surgical precision, remarked, "No text using the word 'agglutinate' has ever said anything serious." Valdés concludes her piece by quoting Díaz-Canel: "our response must be one of unity." It seems the Revolution lives on, while the people merely survive.