Silvio Rodríguez accuses the media of insinuating that he is changing his principles: "Pure manipulation."

Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, a loyal acolyte of the government who has recently criticized the stagnation of its economic model and the repression of peaceful protests, shared a text in which he reaffirms his loyalty to socialism, which he considers a superior system.

Days after harshly criticizing the government's economic policies, which he claimed are destroying the country, the troubadour seems concerned about the repercussions of his words in independent media and has written another article in which he reaffirms his commitment to the regime.

"Recently, some media outlets have reproduced opinions about the Cuban reality that I have expressed on my blog 'Segunda cita' and have dared to suggest that I am changing my principles. Pure manipulation," he said.

"Those opposed to the political process known as the Cuban Revolution say that I am changing, as if it were possible for me to regret my life," he added.

The founder of the Nueva Trova recounted how he has always been involved in the revolution in one way or another, even since he was a child in the late 1950s, "when everyone on my street knew that the bakery sold July 26th bonds, and if we saw a police officer coming, we would warn the baker."

Despite his defense of the process, he assures that he never wanted to be a member of the Party because "I find it hard to comply without discussion with what others come up with."

What he did accept was to be a deputy in the National Assembly for 15 years, since when it was proposed to him in 1993, at the toughest moment of that special period, "it would have been cowardice to continue refusing." Later, at 60 years old, he requested to leave the Parliament and also his retirement, "because I never tolerated bureaucracy."

At 77 years old, the composer of Ojalá and El Necio assures that he essentially remains the same: "social justice without egalitarianism, science as a guide and a self-critical heart."

"I still believe that socialism has better human possibilities than capitalism; but it has to be a truly superior socialism, as has been said and sung so much, even if we must use 'imperfect tools' until we are capable of a better energy. Down with the dogmas. Long live freedom," he concluded.