Related videos:
The national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and former Cuban spy, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, has once again become the center of controversy after embarking on a trip to Italy, just weeks after publicly labeling Europe as a “failed continent.”
Hernández Nordelo announced on his Facebook account that he had arrived in the European country to carry out a “work program” as a guest of the National Association of Friendship Italy-Cuba.
Also, he reported on a meeting held in Rome with Gianfranco Pagliarulo, president of the National Association of Partisans of Italy (ANPI), whom he visited at the headquarters of that historic organization.
The controversy erupted because, on April 30, the leader used a momentary blackout in Spain and Portugal to launch one of his usual propaganda tirades, claiming that Europeans should “apply the term failed continent”, in response to the hashtag #CubaEstadoFallido, used to denounce the deep energy and structural crisis on the Island.
In his publications, he avoided any display of empathy and preferred to insist on the official narrative that blames the U.S. embargo for all national misfortunes, ignoring that Cuba suffers from chronic and prolonged blackouts, unlike the European exception.
The activist Avana de la Torre also reacted to the trip of the ex-spy, questioning on social media the audacity of a high-ranking official of the regime strolling through Europe while the Cuban people are mired in poverty.
The images of Gerardo Hernández smiling in Rome have been seen by many as an act of cynicism, especially at a time when millions of Cubans are living under rationing, blackouts, and repression.
The tour of the head of the CDR, neighborhood surveillance structure that serves as political support for the regime, has been met with rejection from the diaspora and human rights defenders, who see him as a privileged spokesperson for the repressive apparatus of Havana, now visiting the same countries he previously denigrated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gerardo Hernández and His Trip to Europe
Why is Gerardo Hernández's trip to Italy controversial?
Gerardo Hernández's trip to Italy is controversial because it comes shortly after he described Europe as a "failed continent," generating criticism for the apparent hypocrisy of visiting a continent he publicly denigrated. Additionally, it is deemed inappropriate for a high-ranking official of the Cuban regime to travel abroad while the Cuban people are facing a severe economic and social crisis.
What was the reaction of the Cuban diaspora to Hernández's trip?
The Cuban diaspora and human rights defenders have reacted with rejection to Gerardo Hernández's trip, viewing it as an act of cynicism by an official representing the repressive apparatus of Havana. They consider his tour of Europe an insult to Cubans living in conditions of poverty, blackouts, and repression.
How has Gerardo Hernández used the power outages in Europe for his discourse?
Gerardo Hernández used the blackout in Spain and Portugal to criticize Europe, labeling it as a "failed continent" in an attempt to divert attention from Cuba's internal problems. This speech seeks to justify the failures of the Cuban system by blaming the U.S. embargo and downplaying the regime's responsibility in the island's energy crisis.
What do Cubans think about Gerardo Hernández's statements regarding emigration?
The statements made by Gerardo Hernández, who claimed that Cubans emigrate for economic reasons and not due to a lack of freedom, have sparked outrage. Many Cubans believe that his position disregards the repression and lack of rights on the island, and that emigration is also driven by the pursuit of freedom and better living conditions.
Filed under: