The third ordinary period of sessions of the X Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) seems to have caused a schism among the ranks of the supporters of the so-called "revolution," and one of the last voices to express discontent after the conclave has been that of writer and filmmaker Eduardo del Llano.
A recognized supporter of the "Cuban revolution," a leftist, and a controversial figure in the island's official culture, Del Llano used his social media to criticize the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, which recently implemented new laws and reported to the ANPP without assuming responsibility for the socioeconomic disaster created by its management.
"If being left-wing meant blind acceptance, I wouldn't be left-wing. Believing in a system does not mean supporting everything done in its name. I present some examples from a much longer list..." said the creator in a Facebook post.
Among his disagreements, the filmmaker expressed that "we need to listen to the economists who know, and not to the ideologues who have no clue about the matter."
Precisely, the reports presented by the Díaz-Canel government to the ANPP received criticism from prominent economists who held high positions within the Cuban regime, such as the one expressed by Juan Triana Cordoví on Silvio Rodríguez's blog.
"It is necessary to inform people not only about who is being dismissed and why, but also about how things are progressing. News needs to be continuous. Information is not birdseed," Del Llano also noted, referring to the dismissal of the former Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil Fernández, of whom no further news has been heard after the regime promised a thorough and transparent investigation.
Political prisoners and the "monstrously excessive sentences" received by the protesters of 11J also featured in the writer's criticisms. "As long as the exercise of the right to peaceful protest is not instrumentalized, that area of the Constitution is a lie," he said, advocating for the innocent who remain in prison for exercising their right to protest.
"The expulsions of university professors for expressing their ideas, the regulation of citizens, and exile are as disgraceful as acts of repudiation. I do not rule out that there are security reasons that must be kept secret, but my imagination cannot come up with any that could justify those specific acts," Del Llano also stated.
A proponent of dialogue as a way to resolve differences, the intellectual advocated for the need to “accept spontaneous civil spokespersons or organizations as interlocutors, such as the Assembly of Filmmakers.” Although he acknowledged that he did not belong to it, he stated that he recognized “its legitimacy.”
Finally, drawing on his satirical ability, Del Llano proposed "to hire at least one skinny minister, and for them to remain so six months later."
“It’s not so serious that I don’t know much about the field, after all...,” concluded the creator, resigning himself to the incompetence of the Cuban leaders and the shamelessness of the “continuity” government led by Díaz-Canel.
We will have to see how their criticisms sit with the non-first lady and official of the Ministry of Culture, Lis Cuesta Peraza, a staunch defender of the beauty of her "mango" and "dictator of her heart," who recently applauded the premiere of the documentary "Democracia," made by Del Llano and presented during the 28th Aquelarre Humor Festival 2024.
In April 2020, in another of his social media posts, Del Llano defended the idea of multipartyism in Cuba and that all citizens should have the freedom to choose their political affiliation freely.
"It seems to me that it is time to accept the opposition as an integral part of the national concert within the country (of course, within certain limits; all societies have their limits). But in principle, the possibility of expressing your ideas is a right," he stated.
However, in September of that same year, the filmmaker stated that he supported what people opposed to the Cuban totalitarian regime call "the bloody Castro dictatorship."
“Let's see if you understand once and for all that I SUPPORT what you call 'the tyranny' and 'the bloody Castro dictatorship'… It is not unconditional support: I am not a militant, no one pays me, bribes me, or threatens me; I criticize what I understand to be wrong from here and for a long time, which the vast majority of you did not do, but I support it not for what it may have of dictatorship, but for what it certainly has of libertarian and anti-imperialist,” he stated.
What do you think?
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