Grandson of Fidel Castro Claims "All Cubans Aspire to Be Like Fidel"

Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, the grandson of the infamous dictator Fidel Castro, recently claimed that "all Cubans" aspire to emulate his grandfather. This statement was made during an interview with teleSUR in Birán, Holguín, in honor of the centennial of the Cuban leader's birth.

The comment emerged as Castro Smirnov reflected on the profound impact his father, the late nuclear scientist Fidel Castro Díaz-Balart, and his grandfather had on his life. "When you hold deep affection for a parent or grandparent, you want to be like them. I always wanted to be like my dad. Naturally, all Cubans want to be like Fidel," he expressed.

Increasingly present at events and platforms dedicated to celebrating his grandfather's political and scientific legacy, Castro Smirnov, who holds a doctorate in sciences and is professionally linked to nuclear physics, has stepped into the public eye.

Fidel Castro: A "Scientist" of Nations

In the same interview, Castro Smirnov offered a unique perspective on his grandfather's governance, describing Fidel as a "scientist" whose "subject of study was a nation." He referred to Birán as Fidel's "first observation laboratory" and described the leader's decisions as "experiments" with potentially "irreversible" outcomes, painting Cuba as a social laboratory under Castro's control.

However, his remarks on teleSUR project a personal sentiment onto the Cuban populace, suggesting a unity that overlooks the nation's historical political divisions and the mass exodus of millions, including many Cubans who openly opposed Fidel Castro's regime.

A Personal Admiration Turned Public

Throughout the interview, Castro Smirnov repeatedly expressed admiration for his grandfather, calling him "the great Fidel," "the man who challenged the empire," and "the genius." "I am eternally fascinated by the history of the Cuban Revolution and, particularly, by the history and persona of Fidel," he stated.

He recounted how he first met his grandfather in a family setting and later became enthralled by his political stature. "I first knew my grandfather and then fell in love with the historical figure of the commander-in-chief, of Fidel, of the Cuban Revolution," he recounted.

Recalling his early encounters with Fidel dressed in olive green military attire, Castro Smirnov described how easy it was for a child to be captivated by someone so "extraordinary" and "affectionate."

Cuba's Social Experiment and Personal Legacy

This interview is part of a series of initiatives aimed at reviving the image of the dictator Castro in the centennial year of his birth. At one point, his grandson confessed he doesn't know "what life without Fidel is like" and pledged to carry his legacy "in my mind, in my dreams, in my blood, in my work, in my conscience."

Yet, amidst these personal tributes, the sweeping claim that "all Cubans want to be like Fidel" stands out, attributing his individual admiration to a broad and diverse society both on and off the island.