Amelia Calzadilla, leader of the Cuban Classical Liberal Party (PLCC), expressed in an interview with Tania Costa on CiberCuba that Miguel Díaz-Canel contradicted his government's official stance by acknowledging to a foreign media outlet that U.S. sanctions hastened the economic reforms he announced on June 12.
Calzadilla emphasized the contrast with the statements of pro-government lawmaker Yusuam Palacios, who declared in the National Assembly of People's Power that the 176 measures approved on June 18 were unrelated to the "intransigence of the United States" or the sanctions imposed on Cuba, attributing them instead to "pure patriotic will." However, Díaz-Canel admitted to Cuban journalist Roberto Cavada that the "intensified blockade" had indeed prompted these decisions to be expedited.
“This isn't about incompetence,” Calzadilla asserted. “This is about deliberately forcing us to live in extreme poverty while holding the solutions in your hands.”
Calzadilla highlighted that the Cuban government had been considering these reforms since the 2011 guidelines, yet they were only implemented in 2026 due to external pressure.
“It's profoundly painful to know the solution to a problem and shelve it while exerting pressure on a population,” she added.
Over those 15 years of deliberate inaction, the situation for Cubans deteriorated to critical levels. According to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 89% of the population lives in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day.
Calzadilla attributed the delay to the regime's ability to benefit from communism while the people suffered under it. “As long as you could live off communism while we had to live under it, you took advantage,” she stated.
The PLCC president also cautioned that these reforms are not guaranteed to last, as the regime would rescind them if they threaten its control. “If they see any of these measures jeopardizing their power, they'll be quick to retract them,” she warned.
In this context, Calzadilla endorsed Washington's stance of not accepting superficial concessions. “I am grateful that the United States does not settle for cosmetic changes, with Marco Rubio clearly stating: we know that Cuba’s issue is political.”
The activist dismissed the regime as a viable leader for economic recovery, arguing that “the lost trust and credibility due to years of rights violations make any form of national or foreign investment almost impossible, as no one believes in them.”
The U.S. State Department described the 176 measures as "superficial smoke signals from the regime" that "come too late," echoing Calzadilla's analysis.
The opposition leader concluded that the uncertainty lies not in whether the regime will fall, but in when it will happen. “I don't think these measures are unrelated to the pressure from the United States,” she stated, leaving open the question of when a definitive transformation will occur.
Key Insights into Cuba's Political and Economic Reforms
What did Díaz-Canel admit regarding U.S. sanctions?
Díaz-Canel admitted that U.S. sanctions accelerated the economic reforms announced in June, contradicting the official government narrative.
Why did Amelia Calzadilla criticize the Cuban regime?
Calzadilla criticized the regime for delaying necessary reforms, forcing Cubans to live in extreme poverty, and for the lack of credibility that hinders any potential economic recovery.
How does the Cuban population currently live?
According to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 89% of the population lives in extreme poverty, with daily incomes below $1.90.