Leonardo Padura on Present-Day Cuba: "It's Become a Daily Hell"

Last Wednesday in Barcelona, Cuban author Leonardo Padura was honored with the Liber Award 2026 for the most outstanding Hispanic-American author. During this event, he took the opportunity to candidly discuss the harsh reality currently faced by the island's population.

"For most people, it's a daily hell," the novelist remarked in an interview with EFE before accepting the award at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

Padura drew a stark contrast between the Cuba of today and the one he encountered in 2016, during a period of rapprochement between Havana and Washington under Barack Obama's presidency, claiming they seem like "two different countries."

The Shift from Hope to Despair

Reflecting on that earlier time, Padura recalled an era marked by hope, with many believing "a lot of things could change," although he criticized the Cuban government for not seizing the opportunity as it should have.

Subsequently, he summarized, came Donald Trump's first term, the pandemic, a Joe Biden administration that "didn't change anything," and Trump's return to the White House "with a very aggressive policy."

Questioning U.S. Sanctions

Padura also questioned the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions against Cuba. "Does this American policy aim to change the Cuban regime? Because it hasn't succeeded, and what has happened is that the Cuban people are suffering," he asserted.

In his view, "they are punishing the Cuban government, but the Cuban government endures while it's the people who are suffering."

Everyday Struggles

Despite acknowledging his economic situation as more favorable than that of many Cubans, Padura admitted he is not immune to everyday issues such as blackouts and water shortages. He recounted a recent experience where he had to transport water in six jugs for his home in Havana.

He and his wife, Lucía López Coll, have resorted to humor to cope with the situation. "Can you imagine Vargas Llosa doing this, hauling water like a laborer, with that gentlemanly English demeanor he had?" Padura quipped.

Beyond the jest, the novelist warned about the psychological toll of living constantly amid shortages. "Poverty has been internalized; people have accepted it, trying to survive," he stated.

Unmet Needs and Social Discontent

Padura perceives "a lot of discontent and dissatisfaction" in Cuban society, yet he believes that this unrest has not evolved into organized movements capable of initiating political change.

He argued that even meeting basic needs has become a daily challenge for Cubans. Solving issues like water shortages, power outages, or scarcity seems to depend on "divine intervention," he lamented, regretting that the population must endure such constant stress and deprivation.

Upcoming Literary Works

This transformation of Cuban society will also be explored in his upcoming novel featuring Mario Conde, set in 2025. The character, now 70 years old, will embark on a mission to find a woman who has inherited wealth from Spain.

Padura had previously explained that the contrast between this work and "Personas decentes," set in the optimism of 2016, depicts a Cuba that appears to have become another country over the years.

Padura is the first Cuban writer to receive the Liber Award, granted by the Federation of Publishers' Guilds of Spain, recognizing his international career and the diversity of genres and styles in his work.

"Receiving the Liber Award today is very gratifying because honorary awards have a unique value; they are given by people who believe your work deserves recognition," Padura expressed upon accepting the accolade.