Amelia Calzadilla Speaks Out on Her Departure from Citizenship and Freedom and the Launch of Her New Party

Amelia Calzadilla, who now leads the Cuban Classical Liberal Party (PLCC), has finally opened up about the controversy surrounding her departure from Citizenship and Freedom and the subsequent creation of her political organization. She shared her thoughts in a conversation with Tania Costa for CiberCuba.

The situation escalated following a public remark by Carolina Barrero, president of Citizenship and Freedom, who mentioned in May that she and her team learned of Calzadilla's plans "through social media." Calzadilla addressed the issue directly, though she preferred not to turn it into a point of contention.

"Look, I won't deny it, because I don't like to lie, I wasn't pleased with the response. There's no point in saying otherwise," Calzadilla said. Nonetheless, she emphasized that out of respect for the time she spent working with Barrero and the new organization she's established, she would rather not dwell on the matter.

Calzadilla expressed her desire to demonstrate that the need for relevance does not center on her. "Going forward, I just want to show that it's not about me, it's about structuring ourselves and finding solutions that are horizontal," she indicated.

Behind the Formation of a New Political Party

The initiative to form the party, Calzadilla clarified, wasn't solely her idea. It began after a meeting on February 18, 2026, in Madrid, where around 120 Cuban exiles from Europe met with Mike Hammer, the head of the U.S. Embassy mission in Cuba.

"This initiative isn't even mine. People attribute it to me because I was the one who verbalized it," she stated. "After February, when we met with Mr. Mike Hammer here in Madrid, some of us realized that the level of organization we achieved and the serious proposals we brought to the table needed to be acted upon."

Leadership and Vision

Regarding her role in the PLCC, Calzadilla emphasized that her presidency is temporary. "Amelia will be the president until there is a primary election within the party to confirm whether I remain president or someone else is chosen. Again, this isn't about me," she reiterated.

Calzadilla also explained her decision to found a political party rather than continue with a human rights organization. In her view, the latter are "monothematic"—focused mainly on political prisoners—whereas a political party can address multiple issues simultaneously.

"I believe in classical liberalism as the solution to our nation's problems," she declared, citing economist Elías Amor as an intellectual reference and support in economic matters, describing their exchanges as "super intense" and enriching.

Responding to Criticism

When questioned about the wave of criticism following her announcement of the party's foundation, Calzadilla differentiated between "toxic and destructive" critics—who, she noted, would exist in any context—and those who have not updated their perception of her. "They haven't moved past the image of the desperate mother at home shouting about gas, electricity, water. And I haven't abandoned that woman. She still exists," she remarked.

Calzadilla concluded with a commitment to let results speak for themselves. "I also believe that creating a party in a country where political participation has long been forbidden is about breaking the ice. And as with anything that breaks the ice, there is always confusion and confrontation," she said.