On Wednesday, the National Assembly of People's Power approved the liquidation of the State Budget for 2025, following a report by the Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro Ale. The minister claimed improvements in fiscal discipline and the sustainability of social programs.
The response from Cubans on social media was overwhelmingly negative. "We don't see any attention to social issues, at least not in Camagüey," summarized a comment that captured the general sentiment.
The report presented to Parliament revealed a fiscal deficit of 67,642 million pesos by the end of 2025, which was 20,897 million less than initially projected, amounting to 5.4% of the Gross Domestic Product.
Fiscal Data Met with Doubt
The minister stated that gross revenue reached 463,461 million pesos, with 64% of total expenditures—518,543 million pesos—allocated to Public Health, Education, and Social Assistance and Security.
The regime also claimed that Public Health received over 75,000 million pesos, facilitated more than 103 million primary care consultations, and that Social Security executed 60,691 million pesos, including partial pension increases benefiting 1.593 million pensioners.
However, the gap between these figures and the daily lives of Cubans became evident in comments on the official media outlet Cubadebate's Facebook post.
"You'd have to be a fool to believe that report! A country without water, power, food, or medicine," wrote one user.
Another directly challenged the minister: "Reduced fiscal deficit? Does he think we're all fools in Cuba?"
Public Outcry Over Real-life Conditions
A third comment highlighted the wage disparity revealed by the official report: "According to the minister, the average salary of a utility worker is 20,000 pesos. Meanwhile, a surgeon's salary after the raise reaches 8,000, maybe 10,000 with on-call duties. The same applies to teachers and professors."
From Santa Clara, another Cuban refuted the official claims about electricity distribution: "The circuit rotation is a lie. Come to Santa Clara and witness the sham: circuits 2 and 6, among others, have been without power at night for months."
The question echoed in the comments was clear: "Can you name a single problem you have solved? Just one, that's all I'm asking."
Independent Data Supports Public Skepticism
Skepticism is backed by independent data. The Cuban economy shrank by about 5% in 2025, accumulating a decline of over 15% since 2020, according to the Island's Economic Study Center.
The average monthly salary in Cuba was around 5,839 pesos in April 2025, equivalent to about 16 dollars on the informal exchange market, while minimum pensions increased in September of that year barely exceeded 3,000 pesos.
In 2025, several provinces experienced power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily, with a generation deficit exceeding 2,000 megawatts, a stark contrast to the investment data in basic services presented to Parliament.
"Why don't they step out of their bubble and live for 15 days under the same conditions as the majority of the people? Let's see how they handle it," concluded another Cuban, summarizing the gap that no official report seems able to bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Economic Challenges
What was the fiscal deficit of Cuba in 2025?
The fiscal deficit of Cuba in 2025 was reported to be 67,642 million pesos, 5.4% of the country's GDP.
How did the Cuban economy perform in 2025?
The Cuban economy contracted by approximately 5% in 2025, continuing a downward trend with a total decline of over 15% since 2020.
What were the main concerns of Cubans regarding the official report?
Cubans expressed skepticism about the official report, highlighting issues such as lack of basic necessities, wage disparities, and power outages.