This past Friday, Rosa Marquetti, a renowned Cuban musicologist and music historian, took to Facebook to express her strong opposition to the 176 economic measures proposed by the regime to the National Assembly. She argued that no reform would be meaningful until the fundamental rights of Cubans are restored and political prisoners are freed from the dictatorship's jails.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz presented the most extensive set of structural reforms since the Special Period to the National Assembly. These 176 measures are organized into 23 sectors, featuring the introduction of private banking, trading of state-owned company shares, partial dollarization, and the discontinuation of the universal basic goods basket in place since 1962.
For Marquetti, who holds a degree in Philology from the University of Havana and resides in Madrid, the announcement is merely cosmetic. “Nothing new in this package of measures; it's a makeover session with everything old and more recycled than beer cans, yet far more severe and detrimental to the already dire situation of the people,” she posted on her profile.
The scholar criticized the measures for failing to address urgent everyday issues like electricity, water, food, medicine, and dignity. She believes the plan is crafted to safeguard those who have already amassed wealth and power at the expense of the people's suffering.
“These measures, which aimlessly steer Cuba towards an unknown system, will protect the seats, bellies, and ill-gotten fortunes,” she asserted, adding that the outcome will be to make "the powerful richer and those who believed in them for decades poorer, now left in abject poverty."
Marquetti's primary argument highlights the political dimension that the regime is avoiding: “No measure will be effective and sincere if dignity and the basic rights stripped from Cubans are not restored first.” She elaborated, “No amount of expert-backed cosmetics will serve the interests of the people without political changes ensuring an end to dissent criminalization, the freedom of all political prisoners, and the cessation of repression.”
This demand gains significance as the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights documented 231 repressive actions in February 2026 alone. The reform package lacks any political opening, and analysts warn it might replicate the Soviet privatization model of the 1990s, where party elites seized state assets through privileged information.
Marquetti also challenged the international left, historically vocal against "financial cages" and "IMF packages" in other countries. “Where are the advocates of social justice, supposedly the revolution's raison d'être? Why aren't they now speaking out with the same fervor, organizing congresses and flotillas?” she inquired. She added, “Is the Cuban people worth less than those you once shouted for at international forums?”
Regarding media coverage, her criticism was equally pointed: “The headlines I see are misleading, and the global press has long ceased to be naive.” Her post included an image of Pinocchio's silhouette—the character whose nose grows when he lies—visually reinforcing her message about the deceptive nature of the official announcements.
The crisis surrounding these measures is unprecedented in its severity: the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects a 6.5% decline in Cuba’s GDP for 2026, the worst forecast in the region, with power outages lasting between 20 and 40 hours daily in several provinces, and a collapse in tourism from 4.7 million visitors in 2018 to 1.8 million in 2025.
Even Díaz-Canel implicitly acknowledged the failure of the current model by stating on Thursday, “Enough explaining the crisis; it’s time to change it,” yet he failed to announce any political openness to support the economic reforms.
Key Insights on Cuba's Economic Crisis and Reforms
What are the main criticisms of the economic measures in Cuba?
Critics argue that the measures are superficial and do not address fundamental issues like restoring rights and addressing the everyday needs of the Cuban people. They see it as a strategy to protect those already in power rather than genuinely reforming the system.
How does Marquetti view the proposed reforms?
Rosa Marquetti perceives the proposed reforms as a mere cosmetic change, criticizing them for not addressing urgent issues and being designed to protect the wealthy and powerful.
What is the projected economic outlook for Cuba according to ECLAC?
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) forecasts a 6.5% drop in Cuba’s GDP for 2026, marking the worst economic projection in the region.