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During her recent visit to China, part of the official tour of Asia alongside Miguel Díaz-Canel, the so-called “not first lady” of Cuba, Lis Cuesta Peraza, sparked a new wave of criticism due to the apparent contradiction between her commitment rhetoric and the obvious opulence of her accessories.
In images shared on his social media, he is seen holding a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, a high-end foldable model priced around $1,200, according to research conducted by users on social media, who identified the model based on his photographs.
Additionally, as pointed out by user @Taoro8, a striking Cartier watch was noted on her wrist, the design of which aligns with variants from the prestigious French house priced between $5,000 and over $12,000 (it could be the Ballon Bleu priced over $13,000 USD that the Culture Ministry official and event organizer showcased during her doctoral thesis defense).
In the same photos from her time in China, Cuesta Peraza was seen wearing a beige dress by the brand Boss, model Delaurena mini dress, priced around 670 dollars, and golden shoes from the Italian brand Gianvito Rossi, valued at 2,630 dollars.
Items that may seem unassuming at first glance, but when identified by users on social media, reveal an absolutely disproportionate level of spending compared to the average salary in Cuba and the scarcity experienced by most families on the island.
The contrast is chilling when the people are reminded to “resist with dignity and creativity” while the wife of the dictator's appointed leader showcases items that, at times, exceed the average annual salary of a Cuban worker.
This pattern of ostentation is not new. At the International Congress on Pedagogy 2025, Cuesta attended with an Aigner watch valued at 549 euros, a significant accessory considering his state functions and remuneration.
The president is also keeping up in the luxury race. During a recent trip to Moscow, Díaz-Canel wore a Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman”, valued between 14,000 and 18,000 euros, along with a Hermès silk tie costing 285 dollars, all while proclaiming the “creative resistance” of Cuban socialism.
The extravagance extends even to the closest surroundings: the son of the "not first lady," Manuel Anido Cuesta, stepson and "advisor" to Díaz-Canel, was photographed with a Montblanc portfolio worth $1,385 during official tours accompanying his stepfather.
He was also seen wearing clothing worth over 3,000 dollars walking through exclusive areas of Madrid alongside his then-partner, actress Ana de Armas.
This accumulation of luxury amidst growing poverty, with prolonged power outages, families cooking with firewood, shortages of food and medications, and salaries barely reaching 10 USD monthly, has been a cause of increasing outrage on Cuban digital platforms.
While Cuesta Peraza and his family showcase high-end accessories, millions of Cubans struggle to meet basic needs. The incongruity between the official discourse and the public image of the Cuban power elite becomes evident once again, generating rejection and deep skepticism among both locals and outsiders.
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