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Instead of urgently addressing the economic catastrophe facing the country, the Cuban regime has chosen to strengthen its ideological machinery, announcing new appointments in the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) with the stated objective of "reinforcing political and ideological activity."
The Political Bureau approved this week the appointment of Yuniasky Crespo Baquero as the new head of the Ideological Department of the PCC, a central figure in the official propaganda strategy.
The official replaces her previous position at the head of the Department of Attention to the Social Sector and, according to a note published by the state newspaper Granma, her appointment is a response to the need to "strengthen" the ideological component amid the national crisis.
A trajectory shaped within the political control apparatus
Yuniasky Crespo, 48 years old, holds a degree in Education with a specialization in Marxism-Leninism and History, and has spent her entire professional life within ideological control structures: from the FEU and the UJC, where she eventually became the first secretary, to her rise through the ranks of the PCC.
Deputy to the National Assembly, she held positions in the Executive Bureau of Havana and served as the first secretary of the Party in Mayabeque for over three years, until she was dismissed in May of this year.
Crespo is not an unknown figure: he embodies the typical profile of a molded figure within the framework of loyalty and political discipline, detached from criticism and disconnected from any transformative proposal that does not adhere to the dogma of state socialism.
More ideology, fewer solutions
The vacancy left by Crespo in the Department of Social Sector Care will be filled by Rolando Ernesto Yero Travieso, a 55-year-old internist with political training in the UJC.
He has also moved through the Party's structures, particularly in roles related to the oversight of sensitive sectors such as health and science. Until now, he has been serving as the deputy head of the same department.
Both appointments confirm that the regime's priority is not to improve economic management or to respond to the growing precariousness, but rather to reaffirm ideological control as a political lifeline in the face of degradation.
Marrero made it clear: Ideology above the economy
The background of these movements has an explicit framework. In December 2024, during a session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero made it clear that political-ideological work would be the priority of the regime in 2025, above the economy, production, or social investment.
In his own words, collected by Canal Caribe, Marrero stated that the country's number one priority would be “the strengthening of political-ideological work at all structures and levels,” describing it as “essential” for national cohesion in a country that, according to him, “is being attacked and blocked.”
This narrative seeks to justify the lack of structural reforms with the argument of "external aggression," while ignoring the urgent demands of a citizenry facing uncontrolled inflation, power outages, food shortages, and unprecedented mass emigration.
A Party that entrenches itself in dogma
With these appointments, the Central Committee of the PCC sends a clear signal: there will be no real changes or openness.
It involves reinforcing the doctrinal apparatus, shielding the discourse, and containing social discontent through increased propaganda and tighter control, rather than promoting practical solutions or changes to the failed model that has led the country to collapse.
Instead of opting for technocrats capable of tackling economic challenges or competent managers in key areas, the regime rewards ideological loyalty, as if indoctrination were enough to fill empty refrigerators or stabilize the currency.
The new appointments only confirm the regime's lack of willingness to take real responsibility for the crisis it has created.
While millions of Cubans are leaving the country and countless others are surviving in extreme conditions, the Party is reorganizing to continue repeating its own dogma.
The priority is not Cuba, it is the Party. And for it, ideology remains more important than food, health, or the future.
Frequently Asked Questions about the New Appointments in the Central Committee of the PCC in Cuba
Why has the Cuban regime chosen to strengthen its ideological machinery instead of addressing the economic crisis?
The Cuban regime has prioritized strengthening ideological control in response to the economic crisis, seeking to reaffirm its political power in the face of social unrest. Despite the obvious need for economic reforms, the government has chosen to enhance official propaganda and the doctrinal apparatus instead of implementing practical solutions to improve economic management and address the urgent needs of the population.
Who is Yuniasky Crespo Baquero and what role will she play in the PCC?
Yuniasky Crespo Baquero is an official of the PCC who has been appointed as the new head of the Ideological Department of the Communist Party of Cuba. Crespo has had a career focused on the structures of ideological control, and her appointment responds to the regime's need to "strengthen" the ideological component amid the national crisis. Her role will be central to the official propaganda strategy of the PCC.
How has the Cuban population reacted to these changes in the Central Committee of the PCC?
The Cuban population has expressed its discontent and skepticism regarding the changes in the Central Committee of the PCC, as the recent appointments do not address the urgent economic and social concerns facing the country. Instead of offering real solutions, the regime has chosen to reinforce ideological control, which has been perceived as a strategy to perpetuate its power without resolving the structural problems affecting Cubans.
What is the Cuban regime's position regarding the current economic crisis?
The Cuban regime insists that socialism is the only possible path for the country, despite the economic crisis. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to political-ideological work as a priority, justifying the lack of structural reforms with arguments of "external aggression" and blockades. This stance has been criticized for not providing tangible solutions to the population, which is facing a situation of extreme hardship.
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