The Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, known for his support of the Castro regime, admitted that the crisis in Cuba is "terrible," and expressed particular concern for what the elderly are going through.
In an interview with The Associated Press agency, the troubadour described the current situation as "very tough," marked by inflation, low food production, emigration, and the deterioration of services.
The current situation undermines any ideal conviction. The reality is harsh for the majority of our people, very harsh. And that starts with the number of elderly people who dedicated their lives to the revolution with body and soul, and now, imagine, with the pensions they receive, it is not even enough for a carton of eggs," he pointed out.
"Most people everywhere just want to live their lives peacefully, make some progress, and have some opportunities," he added.
Silvio, a fervent defender of the revolution and who was a deputy in the Cuban Parliament for years, has recently expressed opinions in which he advocates for a change in mindset among the ruling class and an opening to a market economy.
"I am capable of coexisting within a very open spectrum of opinions, as long as mine is also considered, of course. I just hope that our future, the future of José Martí's Cuba, does not end up in the pocket of the United States Government," he stated.
The founder of the Nueva Trova movement, 77 years old, stated in June 2023 that the Cuban government needed "a change in mentality" and to "lose the fear" of economic models that can guarantee collective well-being.
"The changes we need are in mentality. We must lose the fear," he pointed out.
In 2022, the musician commented that in Cuba it is necessary to "revolutionize the revolution" as a way to overcome the crisis it is going through.
In a text published on the blog Another Quote, he called for the transformation of the Cuban socialist model and suggested drawing on the experiences of countries like China and Vietnam, after admitting that the real experiences of socialism that have existed prove that, as it was conceived, it is impracticable.
"My personal opinion is that the experiences of China and Vietnam are the best so far: socialist governments leading capitalist economies. I am not talking about copying but interpreting. To me, it is obvious that Cuba needs to revolutionize the revolution," he emphasized.
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