A few hours after solemnly assuring Parliament that “there are no beggars in Cuba”, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, became the most viral meme of the week and, in the process, resigned.
On Monday, he denied poverty in Cuba, and the reaction on social media was so intense that this Tuesday Feitó submitted his resignation. A response speed that any process in his own ministry would envy.
The former minister stated without blushing that the people begging for alms are “disguised as beggars” and that, in reality, they are just looking for “alcoholic drinks on the corner.” As if that weren't enough, she denied that there are Cubans digging through garbage to eat and even accused the “divers” of being “illegal self-employed workers.”
Social media quickly responded with creativity, sharp humor... and fire. Within a few hours, the official was depicted in edits where she appears elegantly dressed among trash bins in Havana or cleaning windshields at a traffic light with a cup of La Mesa Redonda in hand.
Several Cuban comedians stood out for their ironic messages against the official. Luis Silva dedicated a viral song to her, and Rigoberto Ferrera sparked a debate by stating that if there are people disguised as beggars, there are also people disguised as ministers in Cuba.
Other memes invited to a "costume party", where it was no longer clear who was a beggar, who was an official, and who was simply trying to survive on the island.
The hashtag #BájateDelCarroYDimite quickly rose to prominence as the phrase of the moment, and it wasn’t long before someone said: “the legend has it that they resigned.”
In light of the unstoppable scandal, the Political Bureau and the Council of State accepted Feitó's resignation. An elegant way of saying that someone tapped her on the shoulder and suggested she take off the ministerial disguise, with that gesture "to save the government's image".
Meanwhile, the reality on the streets continues to contradict official narratives. Unlike memes, poverty in Cuba is neither edited nor disguised.
Frequently asked questions about the resignation of the Minister of Labor in Cuba and her statements
Why did Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera resign as Minister of Labor in Cuba?
Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera resigned following a strong public controversy caused by her statements in which she denied the existence of beggars in Cuba and referred to homeless individuals as "disguised as beggars." Her words generated widespread social and political backlash, leading to her resignation accepted by the Political Bureau and the Council of State.
What did the minister state about the beggars in Cuba?
The minister Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera stated that in Cuba there are no beggars, but rather people "disguised as beggars" who are looking for "an easy way of life" for money. These remarks were perceived as insensitive and disconnected from reality, sparking a wave of outrage both inside and outside of Cuba.
How did social media and the public react to the minister's statements?
Social media exploded with criticism and memes against the minister, becoming a viral trend. Comedians, intellectuals, and everyday citizens expressed their rejection with ironic and creative messages, highlighting the disconnect between the official discourse and reality in Cuba.
What has been the Cuban government's stance regarding the minister's resignation?
The Cuban government, through the Political Bureau and the State Council, accepted the resignation of the minister following a joint analysis in which Feitó herself acknowledged her mistakes. President Miguel Díaz-Canel also made an indirect statement, criticizing the lack of sensitivity in handling social vulnerability.
What impact did the minister's statements have on the perception of poverty in Cuba?
The statements from the minister highlighted the disconnect between the official discourse and the Cuban reality, in addition to sparking a debate about poverty and the government's lack of empathy towards the most vulnerable sectors. Intellectuals and activists have seized the moment to call for genuine recognition and attention to these social issues.
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