In a recent broadcast of the official program Con Filo, the regime spokesperson Michel Torres Corona surprised the audience by openly acknowledging that there are "legitimate reasons to protest" in Cuba, marking an unusual gesture of admission by the state propaganda.
Although the objective of the segment was to discredit the recent protests against the power outages, Torres ended up revealing uncomfortable truths for the discourse of power.
The presenter tried to portray the authorities as empathetic figures close to the people, highlighting that "the party secretaries and government officials have gone to talk with those who are legitimately protesting."
However, this attempt to glorify the leaders ended up being a confirmation of the depth of popular discontent and an acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the protests in Cuba.
According to Torres Corona, the difference lies between those who “want violence and fire to push their political agenda” and those, “driven by helplessness and scarcity, who see no other path but to raise their voice”.
He affirmed that these last individuals should be "listened to and understood." However, this invitation to dialogue does not conceal the intention to redirect discontent toward "the appropriate channels" and to maintain obedience to the regime's decisions.
The phrases used in the program—such as "listening to the people," "explaining the causes," or "recognizing mistakes"—align with the communication strategy of the regime, which attempts to contain social unrest without conceding any real political ground.
As is customary, conciliatory rhetoric was blended with accusations of a “counter-revolutionary agenda” and “terrorist acts”, especially when referring to activists or citizens who criticize the situation from exile.
The energy crisis —recognized even by national television— continues to shape the daily lives of Cubans, especially outside of Havana, where blackouts are longer and more frequent. Despite slight improvements in the distribution of power loads, scarcity, uncertainty, and frustration are growing, fueling social protests.
In this context, Torres Corona's statements, although carefully crafted, represent an implicit validation of popular discontent. The underlying message seems clear: the regime seeks to contain the protests, channel them, and, above all, maintain its authority intact by appealing to a conditioned and controlled dialogue.
The recognition of the causes of discomfort does not imply a genuine openness, but rather a strategy to prevent manifestations from escalating, overflowing the official narrative and challenging the legitimacy of the system.
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