This past Friday, the Cuban government appointed Jorge Legañoa Alonso, the head of the state-controlled Prensa Latina agency and a native of Camagüey, as a deputy for the municipality of Rafael Freyre in Holguín. This appointment completes the province's quota of 40 representatives in the National Assembly of People's Power.
The Cuban News Agency reported that this decision followed the directives of Agreement 608-X by the Council of State, endorsed by its president, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, on June 22, and later published in the Official Gazette.
Maite Pupo Romero, leading the department overseeing local bodies in the National Assembly, mentioned that the vacancy had remained unfilled for "an extended period," causing concern among delegates who insisted on its resolution.
Legañoa's selection exemplifies the workings of Cuba's political system. Despite being a 43-year-old from Camagüey with no historical ties to Holguín, he now represents a Holguín municipality due to a proposal described by the regime as having "national significance," a euphemism for top-down appointments.
Upon accepting the position, Legañoa expressed that representing the approximately 50,000 residents of Rafael Freyre is both "a significant challenge and a profound honor." He vowed to be "one of the voices of the Freyre citizens in the Cuban Parliament," according to the source.
The next general election is slated for 2028.
Legañoa, a prominent figure in official propaganda, was rewarded with the presidency of Prensa Latina in October 2025, following his televised smear campaign against opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), who was recently released and sent to the United States.
In that broadcast, Legañoa referred to Ferrer as "violent," a "criminal," and a "mercenary."
In June, he defended the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel on the state-run show Mesa Redonda after the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Cuban ruler, calling these sanctions a "medal" and a "recognition of resilience."
"It is a recognition of resilience, of not bending, not succumbing to pressure, and defending the principles and values of the revolution," Legañoa stated at the time.
In March, Legañoa publicly denied any negotiations between Cuba and the United States, labeling them as "manipulative maneuvers." However, he was compelled to question Díaz-Canel about these discussions days later when the leader officially acknowledged them.
A journalism graduate from the University of Havana in 2007, Legañoa has held positions within the Institute of Information and Communication, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and the Cuban Journalists Union.
Founded in 1959, Prensa Latina, which Legañoa now oversees, operates as an international mouthpiece for the regime's propaganda, with 39 offices worldwide.
A notable precedent for this vacancy-filling process between general elections occurred in October 2021 when General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja (1960-2022) was appointed as a deputy for Remedios in Villa Clara, also through an extraordinary session of the municipal assembly.
Key Questions about Cuba's Political Appointments
Who is Jorge Legañoa Alonso?
Jorge Legañoa Alonso is the president of the state-run Prensa Latina agency and was recently appointed as a deputy for the municipality of Rafael Freyre in Holguín.
What significance does Legañoa's appointment have?
Legañoa's appointment highlights the Cuban regime's top-down approach to political representation, as he represents a Holguín municipality despite his roots in Camagüey and lack of historical ties to Holguín.
What role does Prensa Latina play in Cuba?
Prensa Latina serves as a global platform for the Cuban regime's propaganda, operating from 39 offices around the world.