Aleida Guevara March, daughter of Ernesto "Che" Guevara and a staunch supporter of the Cuban regime, stood up for the island's political and economic systems on Wednesday in Brussels. During an event at the European Parliament opposing U.S. sanctions, she declared that "no one else has the right to tell us how to live."
The event, titled "Cuba Yes, Blockade No," was organized by The Left group within the European Parliament.
The Cuban Embassy in Belgium as well as to the European Union shared Guevara's statements, framing her participation as a denunciation of the harmful effects of U.S. sanctions on the Cuban populace.
"No one else has the right to dictate how we should live," Guevara asserted, emphasizing that the "true freedom" of a people lies in the ability to decide their own path.
The Cuban physician largely attributed the island's economic struggles to the sanctions imposed by the United States. In a separate statement from the diplomatic mission, she described Cuba's current economic condition as "the most challenging" and reiterated that the U.S. embargo is a significant factor in the nation's hardships.
"We've been facing economic difficulties for many years; the blockade has been with us since the very beginning of the Revolution. The economic situation we're experiencing now is the toughest," she stated.
The Embassy also highlighted her remarks about the impact of U.S. sanctions and the call for greater international solidarity with Havana.
Guevara went beyond defending Cuba's foreign policy, directly endorsing the socialist system in place on the island. She reportedly described living in a socialist society as a "privilege" and acknowledged that while authorities do make mistakes, these errors serve as learning experiences to correct and find new solutions.
The daughter of Che Guevara dismissed the idea that resolving the current crisis would require changing the island's political and economic model. Instead, she advocated for "perfecting our system and moving forward."
Her speech defending Cubans' right to determine their future occurred in the same European Parliament that, just two weeks prior, had passed a resolution critical of Havana's authorities. On September 17, the Eurochamber called for the immediate release of Félix and Saylí Navarro and demanded action against those responsible for human rights abuses in Cuba.
Guevara did not address the issue of political prisoners or the demands of the Eurochamber in her remarks. Her focus remained on U.S. sanctions, the defense of socialism, and the legitimacy of the Cuban regime to sustain its current model.
According to Prensa Latina, Wednesday's activity was the first of two days of discussions concerning U.S. sanctions. Among the attendees were MEPs Marc Botenga, Giorgos Georgiou, and Ilaria Salis, who criticized Washington's policy towards Cuba and called for a more active response from the European Union.
Guevara's presence in Brussels had been announced a day earlier, with her arrival in the Belgian capital set for participation in the forum. The "Cuba Yes, Blockade No" event is scheduled to continue on Thursday, October 1, with more political and academic figures criticizing U.S. sanctions.
Understanding the Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
What are the main reasons behind the economic difficulties in Cuba according to Aleida Guevara?
Aleida Guevara attributes the economic difficulties in Cuba primarily to the sanctions imposed by the United States, which she claims have been in place since the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
What was the purpose of Aleida Guevara's visit to Brussels?
Aleida Guevara visited Brussels to participate in a forum at the European Parliament, where she defended Cuba's political system and denounced the negative impact of U.S. sanctions on the island.
How did the European Parliament recently act regarding Cuba?
The European Parliament recently passed a resolution calling for the release of political prisoners in Cuba and demanded measures against those responsible for human rights violations in the country.