The wife of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, Lis Cuesta Peraza, has addressed the topic of the First Lady in Cuba, a ceremonial position that, although she insists on rejecting, continues to represent during multiple official trips abroad and state events attended by her husband, which has generated criticism regarding her unacknowledged yet evident role within the Cuban government.
In a recent interview granted to the channel Alma Plus TV, from the University of Havana, Cuesta delved into her role alongside Díaz-Canel and defended her participation in the public sphere.
We do not have a First Lady; it is not only a bourgeois structure, you see, it is a patriarchal structure, and I am very feminist, and therefore I am completely against that, but we have understood as a couple that I also do not have to be behind the door; these are different times, stated Cuesta, who is introduced as the events director of the Ministry of Culture of the Island.
Since the arrival of Díaz-Canel to the presidency in 2018, Cuesta has maintained an active public profile, participating in protocol events and promoting cultural activities on the island. In his statements, he emphasized the challenges he has faced while accompanying the Cuban leader, describing his work as “one of the most difficult things” in his life.
“I believe that my role as a teacher, as a cultural worker, as a researcher at the ICCP (Central Institute of Pedagogical Sciences) in the academic world, I have been able to fulfill, and I have had the opportunity to support him in other roles and tasks that have also been quite challenging, but I take pride in them as well. I have learned, it hasn’t been easy but I have learned, and I have done it side by side with my colleague and with absolute respect for this people,” Cuesta stated.
She argued that her husband has not tried to make her hide and, on the contrary, he has supported her in the various roles she performs. She also stated that she has received support from figures such as Dalia Soto del Valle, widow of dictator Fidel Castro, Asela de los Santos, widow of José Ramón Fernández, who passed away in January 2020, as well as the daughter of retired military Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín, Mariela Castro Espín, who have helped her cope with her role.
About her husband, Cuesta expressed her pride in his work. “I believe that Díaz-Canel, as a leader, deeply loves the Cuban people. He comes from humble beginnings, the son of a teacher from a rural school and a chemical worker in a factory. His respect for the history of Cuba, his respect for our historical generation, for our struggles and battles… has allowed him to regard the people of Cuba with respect, with infinite respect, but above all with pride. He is always very proud of all the battles that the Cuban people are winning, and I am proud of him.”
The statements from Cuesta, which are perceived as an attempt to portray herself as a victim in Cuban politics, arise in a context of growing social discontent and economic crisis in the country, where Díaz-Canel has faced severe criticism for his management.
The active presence on social media and her participation in official events have been subjects of public scrutiny, as was the case in 2022 when Cuesta sparked controversy by referring to her husband as "the dictator of my heart" in a Twitter post, which triggered a wave of memes and critical comments due to the use of the term "dictator" in an affectionate context.
That same year, during a energy crisis that caused blackouts across the island, Cuesta stated on Twitter that he had "his heart in scrub mode", which many perceived as a lack of empathy towards the difficult situation faced by the Cuban population.
On the other hand, your son, Manuel Anido Cuesta, from a previous relationship, has been in the media spotlight recently.
Graduated in Law, Anido Cuesta has accompanied his stepfather, the ruling Díaz-Canel, on several international tours, which has sparked criticism over potential nepotism and access to privileges within the power circle in Cuba.
The romantic relationship of Anido Cuesta with Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, revealed in November 2024, has also sparked controversy.
The couple was seen in Madrid, which sparked criticism towards the actress for associating with someone close to the Cuban regime amidst the economic crisis and reports of human rights violations on the island.
These situations have contributed to the perception that, although Lis Cuesta does not officially hold the title of First Lady, her influence and that of her family in the Cuban public sphere are significant, generating debates about transparency in the Island's government.
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