The Cuban government is doubling down on its initiative, "Mi Barrio por la Patria," a program designed to enhance community mobilization and so-called "popular control," as the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) face increasing challenges in retaining their long-held influence in neighborhoods.
During its regular session on Wednesday, the Council of State reviewed the progress of this initiative, as reported by the state-run Canal Caribe.
Esteban Lazo Hernández, the president of the National Assembly and a member of the Communist Party's Political Bureau, led the meeting, which was attended by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Ana María Mari Machado, vice president of the National Assembly, provided a report on the movement's implementation, using data collected from governors, municipal authorities, and mass organizations.
Lazo resorted to the usual official rhetoric, describing the project as an embodiment of "popular participation and the movement of the masses, which are the essence of the revolution."
However, the officials’ statements revealed that a key component of the initiative is neighborhood-level control.
"This action of popular control and the promotion of participation are intrinsically linked to popular power and the essence of our system," stated Carlos Rafael Fuentes León, president of the Commission for the Attention to Local Organs of Popular Power of the ANPP.
Additionally, José Luis Toledo Santander, secretary of the ANPP, outlined measures for municipal assemblies to strengthen "popular control as a complement to administrative control in the demarcation."
This emphasis on "control" is particularly noteworthy in a nation where the CDRs have long operated not only as political mobilization entities but also as an extensive neighborhood surveillance network serving the regime.
A New Strategy for Neighborhood Control
"Mi Barrio por la Patria" operates on three pillars named by authorities as Safe Neighborhood, Productive Neighborhood, and Participatory Neighborhood, aiming to cover more than 12,000 districts nationwide.
The movement began its rollout in March and was officially launched on May 8 at the National Capitol.
Although the government promotes it as a community participation mechanism, its structure, language, and objectives mirror many of the functions historically carried out by the CDRs.
For this reason, independent media and analysts have described it as a reinforced version of the CDRs, adapted to a time when the old mass organizations are increasingly struggling to mobilize the population.
The decline of the CDRs is no longer a problem the official apparatus can hide.
In April 2025, the organization publicly acknowledged a "shortage of cadres." Months later, its national coordinator, Gerardo Hernández, called for a "revitalization" of the CDRs amid participation problems, aging membership, and a lack of interest from younger generations.
"Mi Barrio por la Patria" emerges precisely in this context: a new structure to attempt to regain political presence where the CDRs have been losing it.
New Economic Decrees Approved
The Wednesday session also resulted in the approval of four new economic decrees, though details have primarily come from state media reports.
One decree alters the regulations for micro, small and medium enterprises (mipymes), non-agricultural cooperatives, and self-employed workers, with the declared aim of "removing restrictions."
Another establishes mandatory civil liability insurance for motor vehicles, while a third regulates bidding processes involving state resources.
The fourth authorizes the commercial importation of goods by individuals, both as passengers and through shipments.
These measures continue the changes approved in July, when the Council of State enacted two other decrees as part of the 176 economic transformation measures announced by the authorities.
Understanding the Impact of "Mi Barrio por la Patria"
What is the main goal of "Mi Barrio por la Patria"?
The main goal of "Mi Barrio por la Patria" is to enhance community mobilization and reinforce control at the neighborhood level, aiming to regain political presence where CDRs have been losing influence.
How does "Mi Barrio por la Patria" differ from the CDRs?
While "Mi Barrio por la Patria" shares similar objectives and functions with the CDRs, it is presented as a modernized version to adapt to current challenges faced by the older organizations in mobilizing the population.