Communist Party of Cuba Endorses Reforms: Calls for "Mindset Shift" in Implementation

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) has endorsed a series of economic and social reforms during an Extraordinary Plenary held in Havana this Wednesday. The proposals, presented by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, were reported by the state-run outlet, Cubadebate.

Led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, serving both as the First Secretary of the PCC and the President of the Republic, the session featured over twenty contributions from officials, academics, and leaders of mass organizations. The discussions focused on the urgency, scope, and potential risks associated with the proposed measures.

A notable point of political legitimacy highlighted by the government was the endorsement of Raúl Castro, who participated via videoconference and signed the proposal document. According to the message read during the plenary, Castro was "consulted and fully agrees with the proposed transformations" and emphasized that "as crucial as the approval of these transformations is their proper and timely implementation."

The approved reforms envision modifications to the business landscape, increased openness to both domestic and foreign private capital, banking modernization, partial dollarization, territorial decentralization, and a reduction of ministries from 27 to between 20 and 21. Additionally, municipalities will be allowed to import, export, and manage foreign currency without intermediaries, and Cubans living abroad will have the opportunity to invest under the same conditions as other economic actors.

Marrero Cruz reiterated that these measures do not signify a departure from socialism: "We want to emphasize that these transformations do not represent a deviation from our socialist project; on the contrary, they align with its developmental logic."

Despite the official narrative, several participants in the debate pointed out that the primary obstacle is not political but cultural. According to the state media, Cubadebate, "among the greatest challenges for implementing the proposed measures is a shift in mindset, risk analysis, and assessing the outcomes."

Osnay Miguel Colina, head of the organizing committee for the Cuban Workers' Congress, described the proposal as "bold and daring" but stressed that it requires collective intelligence and rigorous implementation, alongside a review of the Labor Code.

Miriam Nicado García, the rector of the University of Havana, cautioned about the risk that implementation could exacerbate inequalities and concentrate wealth further, urging the government to maintain social justice throughout the process.

This package of reforms comes amid an escalating economic crisis: according to CEPAL projections, Cuba’s GDP is expected to decline by 6.5% in 2026, with a cumulative contraction of 10.3% over 2025-2026, and a loss of nearly 26% since 2020.

Compounding these issues are power outages exceeding 20 hours a day in some provinces, a sugar harvest falling short of 150,000 tons—the lowest in over a century—and an emigration wave exceeding 250,000 Cubans in 2024.

Díaz-Canel had announced these reforms on June 12, and the institutional process was expedited: following the PCC's approval this Wednesday, the National Assembly deputies are set to debate the measures in an extraordinary session scheduled for Thursday, June 18.