The Cuban comedian Andy Vázquez, renowned for his character Facundo Correcto from the show "Vivir del cuento," shared his thoughts on Facebook, expressing gratitude to the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, for his remarks at the General Assembly on Monday. Waltz's speech highlighted the stark contrast between the luxury enjoyed by Cuba's elite and the widespread poverty faced by its people.
Despite often using humor to address serious topics, Vázquez acknowledged that Waltz's address deserved a different approach: "Even though I joke about what happened at the UN, I must admit that every word spoken by the United States representative was strong, direct, and truthful. It was based on undeniable evidence gathered over years of a kleptocracy of dictators who thrive on the outdated socialist narrative while living as the most capitalist themselves."
The actor pointed out that Waltz presented photographs of Rolex watches, lavish mansions, and yachts belonging to Cuba's ruling class, exposing the regime's hypocrisy for blaming the embargo for power outages while its leaders have access to fuel to light up their own homes.
"He revealed to all nations how there's no fuel for ambulances, yet there's always gasoline or oil available for police patrols and black berets used to suppress peaceful dissenters," Vázquez wrote.
Vázquez also touched on the attempts by the Cuban delegation, led by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, to disrupt the session. Rodríguez even approached the podium physically and labeled Waltz a "liar," prompting the Assembly's president to temporarily suspend the session.
To Vázquez, this reaction was a clear indication: "That's why it hurt them so much. They tried to sabotage the session, but this courageous spokesperson returned with even more compelling evidence that further embarrassed them."
Ambassador Waltz, undeterred, responded to the Cuban foreign minister, saying, "Mr. Minister, this is how it's going to be: every time you interrupt me, I will continue to explain just how corrupt this regime is, and I will do it more slowly."
Vázquez's statement comes just days after his return to social media following an emergency hospitalization on October 22 in Miami due to a diabetic episode while driving, with glucose levels at 273 mg/dL and blood pressure at 80/40 mmHg.
Waltz's speech had tangible effects on Tuesday's vote regarding the annual resolution advocating for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba: only 130 countries supported the resolution, compared to 17 votes against and 25 abstentions, marking the least favorable outcome for the regime since the initiative began in 1992.
Vázquez concluded his reflection by capturing the sentiment of many exiled Cubans: "What communists don't understand is that the truth always prevails, sooner or later. I have no doubt that this man truly spoke for every honorable Cuban. And I am grateful for that."
Insight into Andy Vázquez's Reaction to UN Speech
Why did Andy Vázquez praise Michael Waltz's speech at the UN?
Andy Vázquez praised Michael Waltz's speech because it exposed the Cuban regime's hypocrisy and the luxurious lifestyle of its elite, contrasting it with the widespread poverty of the general population. Vázquez appreciated Waltz's direct and truthful words that represented the voice of every honorable Cuban.
What was the reaction of the Cuban delegation to Waltz's speech?
The Cuban delegation, led by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, attempted to disrupt the session. Rodríguez approached the podium and called Waltz a "liar," leading to a temporary suspension of the session by the Assembly's president.
What impact did Waltz's speech have on the UN vote regarding the Cuban embargo?
Waltz's speech influenced the UN vote on Cuba's embargo resolution, resulting in only 130 countries backing the resolution, 17 voting against, and 25 abstaining. This outcome was the most unfavorable for the Cuban regime since the resolution's inception in 1992.