Amidst Cuba's severe crisis, Miguel Díaz-Canel has shifted the burden onto local governments to deliver noticeable "improvements" for the people. During his visit to the Havana municipalities of Regla and Guanabacoa on Wednesday, he demanded tangible results.
The Cuban leader promised unprecedented autonomy to local authorities, stating, "You will have full independence to manage exports, imports, foreign investments in the municipality, and investments from Cubans living abroad."
He emphasized the need for immediate action from all economic players, saying, "The social responsibility of all economic actors must quickly translate into levels of production and service that enhance offerings to the population and improve the purchasing power relationship, meaning the price and wage dynamics."
This approach unveils a clear strategy: delegating the task of creating visible improvements to municipalities while the central government struggles with structural issues.
Simultaneously, Díaz-Canel urged Havana's authorities to "appoint capable individuals" to lead the areas, acknowledging complaints of corruption in the sector.
The unpopular leader was accompanied by Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party's Central Committee, along with top provincial officials. The tour of Havana's 15 municipalities began on June 30 and is still ongoing.
The underlying motive of these visits was inadvertently exposed on July 17, when a slide mistakenly aired on Canal Caribe revealed that these visits to the Defense Councils are part of a plan to "prevent social unrest," as outlined in National Defense Council Directive No. 2.
Social pressure is palpable: the Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 1,311 protests in May 2026 and 107 in June, with the electrical crisis being a major trigger.
Cuba has experienced five nationwide blackouts so far this year; the outage on July 6 left about 9.6 million people without power.
The 176 economic reforms approved in June include raising the minimum wage from 2,100 to 3,210 pesos, allowing private banks and currency exchange houses, and abolishing the universal ration book.
However, none of these measures have yet alleviated the energy crisis or improved Cubans' purchasing power.
Díaz-Canel still has two Havana municipalities left to visit before concluding the tour, and these regions will bear the primary responsibility for proving that the reforms are effective.
Understanding the Municipal Reforms and Their Impact
What autonomy has Díaz-Canel promised to local governments?
Díaz-Canel has assured local governments unprecedented autonomy to manage exports, imports, foreign investments, and investments from Cubans living abroad.
What are the main triggers for the recent protests in Cuba?
The primary triggers for recent protests are the severe electrical crisis and broader economic hardships faced by the population.