Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa expressed a fierce response on Wednesday to an interview given by Miguel Díaz-Canel to Russian channel RT in Spanish. He systematically dismantled the utopian metaphor used by the Cuban leader when asked if the country can overcome its crisis.
In a Facebook post, García started with a direct statement: "To walk, we need legs and feet. Not utopias."
The trigger was Díaz-Canel's response on Monday to RT correspondent Oliver Zamora's question about Cuba's future. Instead of offering a concrete plan, Díaz-Canel resorted to a philosophical quote: "Utopia is on the horizon. When we take two steps, it retreats two steps. The horizon advances ten steps. What's the purpose of utopia? To keep us moving. Hope is the same."
Reality Versus Illusions
García remarked that the journalist "either missed it or chose not to see it," failing to challenge the president on the nature of the horizon, which is inherently unreachable: "That line where earth or sea seem to meet the sky is an optical illusion; no matter how slowly or swiftly one advances, it remains out of reach."
The actor emphasized that Díaz-Canel's poetic musings clash starkly with the harsh realities faced by Cubans: "I imagine DC wanted to be poetic, but POETRY struggles when faced with rampant power outages of all kinds."
Recently, García highlighted the plight of experiencing three consecutive days and nights without electricity in his Playa, Havana building. He was unequivocal in expressing what the Cuban people truly need: "We Cubans, ALL of us, need, desire, strive for, dream of, an ACHIEVABLE state of well-being."
Demand for Tangible Change
García also criticized the regime's long-standing promises of such well-being, noting that the word "unattainable" never appeared in official discourse. He firmly stated: "We demand actions, not promises. I say 'demand' and not 'beg or plead.' That is, if we are truly the ones in charge and making decisions, as they claim."
His criticism extended beyond the metaphor. García also highlighted Díaz-Canel's public support for Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, especially after their declaration that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections. Ortega made this statement during the 47th anniversary celebration of the Sandinista Revolution, an event officially acknowledged by Cuba.
Public Outcry and Ongoing Criticism
García's response is part of a broader backlash following Díaz-Canel's RT interview, where the Cuban leader admitted that no fuel shipments have arrived in Cuba for six months, except for one from Russia. He also vowed to implement 121 out of more than 170 economic measures by the end of July.
A day earlier, historian and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández —under house arrest since June 2024— criticized Díaz-Canel after the interview: "No one like the Cuban president for uttering nonsense in a grandiose tone."
Thousands of Cubans expressed their outrage over the president's metaphor, in a country where the minimum wage is less than five dollars a month and power outages cause food spoilage in homes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Díaz-Canel's Interview and Criticism
What was Luis Alberto García's main criticism of Díaz-Canel's interview?
García criticized Díaz-Canel for using a utopian metaphor instead of offering concrete solutions to Cuba's crisis, highlighting the dissonance between poetic ideals and the harsh realities faced by Cubans.
Why did García mention the power outages in his response?
García mentioned the power outages to emphasize the real and immediate difficulties Cubans face, contrasting them with the abstract ideas presented by Díaz-Canel.
How did other public figures react to Díaz-Canel's interview?
Other public figures, like historian Alina Bárbara López Hernández, also criticized Díaz-Canel, calling his statements nonsensical and grandiloquent.