Elián González Highlights Need for "Criticism, Self-Criticism, and Creativity" in the Cuban Revolution

Elián González, a Cuban parliamentarian and symbolic figure of the nation's revolutionary rhetoric, emphasized on July 5 in Gijón, Spain, that being a revolutionary in Cuba today demands "criticism, self-criticism, and creativity." His remarks were delivered to an audience of over 350 people.

The statement was made during the panel discussion titled "The Cuba of Tomorrow: Memory, Peace, and Revolution," held at the Semana Negra de Gijón as part of the XVIII State Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba. This event saw participation from 46 organizations and 161 representatives supporting the Cuban cause in Spain.

González, a young deputy in Cuba's National Assembly, shared the stage with Juan Ponte, director of the Agenda 2030 for the Asturian government, and Fidel Castro Smirnov, a scientist and grandson of the late dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016).

Economic Challenges and Blame

Throughout his address, González maintained that Cuba's economic turmoil is not primarily due to the Cuban government's mistakes. He acknowledged some errors in building a just society but argued that the U.S. embargo is the main hindrance to the country's development.

González argued that the intensification of U.S. sanctions during Donald Trump's administration led to economic deterioration, a decline in tourism, reduced foreign currency earnings, and challenges in maintaining essential services like healthcare, education, and electricity.

"They accuse us of a failure they themselves provoke," González stated, claiming the blockade causes annual losses exceeding $4 billion, affecting all aspects of daily life.

Preserving the Revolutionary Project

Despite acknowledging the severity of Cuba's current situation, González rejected blaming the political model for the crisis. He asserted that returning to pre-1959 Cuba is not an option. "The Revolution is not perfect," he admitted, yet insisted on preserving and renewing the project.

He noted the revolution is facing "its greatest historical crisis amid profound transformations," advocating for the preservation of social achievements while modernizing the revolutionary project.

During his speech, González praised Castro's legacy, described the revolution as an evolving process, and urged younger generations to take responsibility in sustaining the political system. "The Revolution is not a museum; it is a living, ongoing process," he declared.

Solidarity Event Highlights

The event, organized by the solidarity movement with Cuba in Spain, brought together political representatives and activists aligned with the regime. Among the participants were former MEP Javier Couso, deputy and former spy Fernando González Llort, and other speakers who supported the official narrative, attributing Cuba's crisis to the U.S. embargo.

At 32, González is an industrial engineer, a deputy for the municipality of Cárdenas as of March 2023, and an assistant director at AT Comercial Varadero, a company under GAESA, the military-business conglomerate controlling much of Cuba's economy.

In October 2025, at the IX Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Mexico, González had already argued that the government "does not make major mistakes" and blamed the United States for all of Cuba's issues, a stance he reiterated in Gijón.

Last May, González defended former President Raúl Castro during an anti-imperialist forum in Matanzas, dismissing U.S. Justice Department charges over the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue aircraft shootdowns as a "hoax."