Carlos Saladrigas Advocates for National Unification Commission with Vatican as Mediator

Cuban-American entrepreneur Carlos Saladrigas, who leads the Cuba Study Group, put forward on Monday the idea of establishing a National Unification Commission. This would serve as a key mechanism for facilitating an orderly transition in Cuba, with potential mediators including the Vatican, a third country, or the United Nations.

Saladrigas’s suggestion emerged in response to his analysis of the recent economic reforms announced by Díaz-Canel last Friday. He criticized these reforms as inadequate due to their lack of depth, coordination, solid legal foundation, and failure to empower Cuban civil society.

Economic and Political Transitions: A Complex Journey

Describing the transitional process, Saladrigas likened it to a train with two kinds of changes. "The economic changes are the locomotive, leading the way, while the political changes, though interconnected, are monopolistic," he explained.

Within this political framework, Saladrigas differentiated between immediate needs and those that can be postponed. "We should delay, not postpone, aspects like the formation of political parties and elections. The reason is that civil society must first open up and then organize itself."

A Path Toward Genuine Elections

Saladrigas sees this gradual opening and organization as a precursor to authentic elections. "This approach will eventually lead to a stage where free, fair, and effective elections are possible, albeit after some years."

Regarding constitutional reform, he acknowledged its necessity but not as an immediate priority. "Undoubtedly, it’s a significant political change for them, but it can't happen overnight."

A Step Toward National Unity

In this context, Saladrigas detailed what he believes should be the Cuban regime’s initial concrete announcement. "One of their first declarations should be the creation of a commission, which I would term a National Unification Commission, comprised of civil society members."

He emphasized the importance of representation within this commission. "Members should include diaspora representatives, but primarily those from within Cuba, as they understand the country’s realities. While we have some knowledge, we don’t live with the consequences of our recommendations."

When asked about his willingness to participate, Saladrigas indicated he would join if required, but stressed that leadership is crucial. "For this to be credible and instill the necessary confidence, the commission should be led by a neutral entity. This could be the Vatican, a third country, or the United Nations."

The Vatican as a Historical Mediator

The proposal of the Vatican as a potential mediator is grounded in historical precedent. Pope Francis played a discreet role in thawing relations between Cuba and the United States, as announced in December 2014. More recently, U.S. diplomats met with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Paul Richard Gallagher, to discuss the "significant role" of the Church in Cuba, according to an EFE report from February 2026.

Saladrigas’s proposal aligns with his broader belief that Cuba requires profound and coordinated changes to prevent collapse, asserting that no transition process will be credible without structures that build trust within the island and with the international community.