Miguel Díaz-Canel, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the designated ruler, once again surprised everyone during his recent visit to Guantánamo, where the island's ancestral rhythms took hold of him.
After a day of inspecting the recovery efforts following Hurricane Oscar, the leader heeded the call of the tingo talango and decided to wrap up his schedule with a special touch: by "doing a pasillo" at the San Justo People's Council, as captured by Solvisión's cameras.
From Management to Choreography
In the midst of a context marked by scarcity and the devastation caused by the hurricane, Díaz-Canel demonstrated his unique ability to "connect" with the people: leading the "continuity" to the rhythm of popular music.
"Agroecology and culture must go hand in hand," she declared while performing an impromptu dance move worthy of applause at the gathering surrounded by friends. The statement was reported by the official media outlet Venceremos.
The audience, made up of officials, cultural promoters, and locals still struggling with collapsed roofs and flooded streets, applauded in amazement at this artistic-governmental display, under the watchful gaze of the “undercover” bodyguards disguised as officials, cultural promoters, and residents.
Dance as a Government Strategy
This is not the first time Díaz-Canel has used dance as a political tool. From that controversial guaguancó at an official event to his historic performance at a casino in New York alongside his wife and "not first lady" Lis Cuesta Peraza, the president has solidified his reputation as the "king of the dance floor" on the edge of a precipice.
Could it be that rhythm is part of the new public management manual? Unconfirmed sources claim that there are discussions to include areítos and changüís as mandatory subjects in the training schools of the Party.
One step forward, two steps back
During his visit to Guantánamo, Díaz-Canel also inquired about the situation concerning basic services such as clean water and solid waste collection, areas that face chronic challenges.
"Let the community suggest which problem to solve first," he stated, delegating responsibilities with the same ease with which he danced the nengón, a rhythm whose simplicity, apparently, "corrects distortions and revitalizes the economy" through the magical touches of the marímbula.
A government in a key of sol
The tour in San Justo concluded at the San Pedrito farm, where Díaz-Canel praised local agricultural production and highlighted the cleanliness of the cultivated area, exclaiming, "This is real agriculture with culture!"
In a country where the reality of power constantly challenges logic, Díaz-Canel and his advisers believe they have found a unique way to lead the "continuity" through dance, despite the infamous stiffness of dictator Fidel Castro's hips.
Amidst blackouts, queues, inflation, and hurricanes, their philosophy seems clear: if you can't solve it, at least dance to it. And so, while the people struggle with their daily lives, the ruler continues to follow the rhythm set by GAESA... out of touch with the nation's needs.
The Story of a Guarachero Ruler
Over the years, Miguel Díaz-Canel has been involved in numerous episodes related to music and dance.
In 2018, he was recorded dancing casino with his wife Lis Cuesta during an event in New York. Months later, he was seen playing the conga alongside the JG Almeida group at a diplomatic celebration in the United States.
In 2020, he surprised the audience by dancing at a Descemer Bueno concert at the Karl Marx Theater, where he was seen enjoying the musical performance. He was also spotted dancing at an official event in 2022, amid the criticism triggered by the economic crisis the country was facing.
In addition, previously unseen images from 2022 show him celebrating at a private party alongside members of the Castro family and other high-ranking officials. The event featured live music and a festive atmosphere that stood in stark contrast to the scarcity experienced by much of the population.
As the country hurtles towards the abyss at an alarming pace due to its inept management, Díaz-Canel and the state-run media resort to propaganda to project an image of closeness and popularity for a "leader" who seems to be celebrating his last waltz in the air-conditioned halls of the Palace.
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