On Friday, Cuban researcher and journalist José Raúl Gallego shared a critical analysis in five parts concerning the 176 economic measures unveiled by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero in front of the National Assembly. His damning conclusion: none of these proposals address the country's sociopolitical system.
“None of these measures target the nation's sociopolitical framework, thus leaving the root cause of all Cuba’s problems untouched. With that alone, the discussion could end,” Gallego stated on Facebook.
The researcher highlights that this package—hailed by the regime as the largest structural reform since the Special Period—is merely a rehash of reforms suggested by Raúl Castro during the Obama era, which were either never executed or reversed. “Many of these measures recycle the changes proposed by Raúl Castro during Obama's presidency, which were never implemented or were rolled back, although this time they have delved deeper into the role and participation of private property,” he noted.
Gallego acknowledges that fostering private property is essential for any prosperity project but warns that in Cuba, this principle collides with structural realities that render it ineffective. “The changes proposed by the Cuban regime in this regard occur within an environment lacking free competition, institutional transparency, legal security, an independent judiciary, or a democratic system that enables the contest and alternation of ideas and national projects,” he wrote.
His diagnosis is straightforward: “The issue lies within the roots of the system, not its branches. Moreover, these will be poorly and belatedly applied within a completely exhausted and distorted system.”
Who Truly Benefits from Economic Opening?
The most piercing part of Gallego's analysis questions who will truly gain from the shift towards private capital. According to him, the ruling elite and their families have long positioned themselves in key economic sectors and possess the capital to expand. “This so-called opening to private property primarily benefits themselves and their families," he warned, adding that “what they previously owned disguised as state property, they now hold as private property, but with the concentration of political power preventing others, through their capabilities and initiatives, from competing.”
Gallego draws an illustrative historical parallel: “It's a scenario very similar to what occurred in post-Soviet republics where Communist Party secretaries became the new oligarchs.” This comparison with the Soviet privatizations of 1992-1998 is also a recurring theme among other analysts reviewing the 176 measures from the Cuban regime.
Timing of Reforms under Scrutiny
Another central issue is why these reforms are being approved now. Gallego questions the regime’s decision to implement them under Washington’s pressure, rather than when citizens have been demanding them for decades. “Despite most of the Cuban population requesting these measures for decades, they are only approved now due to foreign government pressure. So, who is the villain here?” he pondered. U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed on Thursday that Washington maintains contact with the regime and has tied improved relations to Havana making “smart decisions,” although the Cuban government denied that the reforms were a result of this pressure.
Cuba's Economic Crisis Intensifies
The announcement comes amid Cuba's worst economic crisis in decades. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects a 6.5% GDP decline in 2026, following a 3.8% contraction in 2025. Cubans are enduring power outages lasting between 20 and 40 consecutive hours and a chronic shortage of food and medicine. The 176 measures approved by the National Assembly include private banking, the transformation of state enterprises into joint-stock companies, and the removal of the 100-worker cap for small and medium-sized private enterprises.
Gallego concludes that, at this historical juncture, the focus should not be on analyzing the regime’s proposals but on pushing for its elimination: “At this moment, with the dictatorship on the brink and with the historic opportunity to rid ourselves of this corrupt and mafia-like clique, what remains is to leave them talking to themselves and push, by all means and from all places possible, to eradicate Castroism, with its consequences and accomplices, from our country once and for all.”
Understanding Cuba's Economic Reforms
What are the main criticisms of the new economic measures in Cuba?
The main criticisms include that the measures do not address the sociopolitical system, recycle past proposals, and primarily benefit the ruling elite and their families.
Why are the timing and motivation behind the reforms questioned?
The timing is questioned because the reforms are being implemented under pressure from the U.S., rather than in response to long-standing demands from Cuban citizens.