Cuban Regime Seeks Feedback on Pre-Approved Economic Measures

In early November, the Cuban regime launched a digital platform named Soberanía to gather public feedback on 176 economic and social measures that had already been approved in June. Many of these initiatives already had established policies and procedures and had advanced significantly in their regulatory development.

As of November 10, official figures indicated that 172 out of the 176 measures had their policies and procedures approved. Furthermore, 231 legal regulations had been developed, with 131 of them published in the Official Gazette.

This does not imply that all the changes are currently in effect or have been implemented, but it does demonstrate that key decisions were made before the public consultation was opened.

The package received approval on June 17 during an extraordinary session of the Communist Party's Central Committee and was confirmed by the National Assembly the following day, without prior public consultation regarding its content.

Public Consultation Without Clear Guarantees of Change

The authorities portrayed these transformations as the result of extensive debates, though these discussions primarily occurred within the political system's own entities, such as the Political Bureau, the Central Committee, the Council of Ministers, and the National Assembly. The general populace did not engage in a similar process before the program's approval.

Featuring 23 thematic areas, the 176 measures include reforms in wages, subsidies, pricing, taxes, state enterprises, private property, banking, foreign investment, and public services, among other national economic sectors.

The platform Soberanía allows individuals to search for transformations by number, keyword, or thematic area, review related legal provisions, and submit their opinions, concerns, and proposals. Users can also adjust their evaluations later and do not need digital identification to participate.

Wilfredo González Vidal, Director General of the Digital Government Center, explained that the responses would be processed to identify trends and produce reports for the agencies responsible for economic and social policies.

However, it remains unclear whether significant public opposition to a measure could lead to its alteration or repeal, or what mechanisms would allow participants to learn about decisions made based on their input.

While public feedback might help address implementation issues, the extent of citizens' ability to challenge pre-made decisions has not been clearly defined.

Constitutional Rights and Political Realities

The Cuban Constitution of 2019 acknowledges citizens' rights to participate in public consultations and other forms of democratic engagement in Article 80. Yet, Article 108, subsection c), leaves it to the National Assembly's discretion whether to submit laws to prior consultation, meaning that the absence of such a procedure does not necessarily constitute a legal violation.

The underlying question is political: what real power do citizens have to influence decisions already made? Articles 10 and 101 of the Constitution stipulate obligations for public attention, popular control, and transparency.

The success of this consultation also depends on whether the government publishes the received feedback, explains which suggestions are accepted or rejected, and indicates whether any feedback leads to a review of the questioned measures.

There is also a concern that participation figures may end up being presented as a demonstration of social support, without adequately distinguishing between favorable, critical, and opposing opinions. The government controls both the processing of comments and the subsequent decisions regarding the questioned measures.

Connectivity Challenges Amidst Power Outages

The digital consultation faces additional hurdles due to the material difficulties many Cubans experience in accessing the internet, particularly during extended power outages.

In Santiago de Cuba, Ricardo Serrano Díaz, the territorial director of ETECSA, acknowledged that between 140 and 150 mobile phone stations were out of service daily due to a lack of electricity or fuel for generator groups.

The energy situation remains critical. On Saturday, November 14, the Electric Union projected an availability of only 970 megawatts compared to a demand of 2,800 MW during peak hours, which is roughly 35% of the anticipated needs.

These limitations make it difficult for those enduring the longest power cuts to participate. Residents of rural areas, the elderly, and low-income families face additional obstacles in accessing the platform, potentially excluding sectors that are particularly affected by the economic reforms.

The contrast with the 2018 constitutional consultation is notable. According to official figures, 133,681 meetings were held in neighborhoods, workplaces, and other institutions, during which 783,174 proposals were collected before the parliamentary approval of the final text.

No similar process was organized for the 176 economic transformations of 2026. The public was invited to give feedback when the program was already approved, and many of its legal provisions had been developed or published.

The skepticism expressed by numerous Cubans since the announcement of the measures introduces another challenge for the government, which continues to struggle to demonstrate sufficient economic results to regain public trust.

An analysis published by Infobae on Sunday highlights the gap between the administrative progress of the program and the material improvements the population should perceive.

The launch of Soberanía will allow for the collection of opinions on this process, but it remains to be seen whether the government will publish detailed results, explain which proposals it accepts or rejects, and offer citizens any effective means to influence the review of the measures.