Lucía Céspedes Ocampo, a Cuban living in Europe known for her public support of the Cuban government, disrupted the "Cuba at the Threshold" event on Tuesday. The event, held at the Wellington Hotel in Madrid, featured Rosa María Payá presenting a Democratic Transition Plan for Cuba to diplomats and regional leaders.
Céspedes Ocampo, who has previously caused similar disturbances in Spain, was featured on Cuba's official news in September, expressing gratitude to Miguel Díaz-Canel during his visit to La Timba, a neighborhood in Havana. She claimed to reside in Guadalupe and voiced her support for the government.
During the Madrid event, Céspedes Ocampo shouted, “Down with the blockade! Long live freedom! Down with the criminal blockade that kills children, that kills the elderly!” As she was escorted out, she proclaimed, “Long live the people of Cuba, long live the Cuban revolution!”
Rosa María Payá remarked on X that the Cuban regime orchestrated the disruption: “The Cuban regime sent a repressor to disrupt the event in Madrid where we are presenting a plan for democratic transition in Cuba.” While Céspedes Ocampo’s history of support for the government is public, it doesn't confirm she acted under orders from Havana.
The activist resumed her speech: “We were wondering why something like this hadn’t happened sooner. It had been too quiet for too long.”
Payá held the Cuban regime responsible for the island’s plight: “The reality is that the Cuban people are living through their darkest hour, thanks to 67 years of communism.”
She further emphasized, “Those accountable for the humanitarian catastrophe in Cuba, those responsible for mothers not knowing how to feed their children or care for the elderly, are the ones in power—within the Castro family and the group of generals clinging to control for 67 years.”
Regarding the woman removed from the event, Payá extended an invitation: “This is also for that young woman, if she’s willing to listen, she’s welcome back anytime.”
Event Preceding the Ibero-American Summit
The event was organized by opposition groups Cuba Decide and Pasos de Cambio, strategically scheduled a day before the 30th Ibero-American Summit began. This summit gathers representatives from the 22 countries of the Ibero-American Community in Madrid on Wednesday and Thursday.
Notable attendees included OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin, Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor Orlando Bisonó Haza (via videoconference), Polish MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Spanish politician from the People’s Party Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, and Rocío Monasterio, former spokesperson for Vox in the Madrid Assembly. Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, also participated remotely.
Comprehensive Plan for Cuba's Future
The plan outlines four phases—Liberation, Stabilization, Reconstruction, and Democratization—and proposes a transitional structure with a 51-member Parliament, an Executive with a president and two vice presidents, and nine technical commissions. The initial phase demands the release of over 1,000 political prisoners, while the final phase envisions free elections under international supervision.
This document stems from the Liberation Agreement signed in Miami in March 2026 by Pasos de Cambio and the Cuban Resistance Assembly, with support from over 30 opposition organizations, and was ratified in Madrid in June of the same year.
Prior to the event, Payá met with Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Chilean Senate President Paulina Núñez, who expressed their solidarity with the Cuban people. The activist summed up the meeting’s essence: “We are no longer just denouncing the dictatorship. We are preparing for the Republic.”
Key Questions About Cuba's Democratic Transition Plan
What is the main goal of the Democratic Transition Plan for Cuba?
The plan aims to transition Cuba towards a democratic government through four phases: Liberation, Stabilization, Reconstruction, and Democratization.
Who organized the event presenting the transition plan in Madrid?
The event was organized by Cuba Decide and Pasos de Cambio, two opposition platforms advocating for change in Cuba.
How does the plan address political prisoners in Cuba?
The first phase of the plan calls for the release of over 1,000 political prisoners as a crucial step towards democratization.