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The debate about Cuba has once again stirred the presidential campaign in Chile, after Senator Juan Luis Castro made an ironic comment about the stance of the communist candidate Jeannette Jara, who publicly acknowledged that there is "clearly no democracy" on the island.
In an interview on the program Nacional Status of 24 Horas and cited by Diario UChile, Castro appreciated the shift of his fellow leftist and made a statement that immediately made headlines: “Jeannette Jara has de-communized herself, although it's a strange, exotic word, but in practice, she has detached herself from a viewpoint that I believe, in Chile, we mostly all understand that democracy does not exist in Cuba, and that has been established.”
The legislator highlighted Jara's "bravery" for taking a stance that breaks with the historical defense of the Cuban regime from the Chilean Communist Party. "He had courage, he had bravery; today the election is played out among the undecided, the moderates, the people who are fed up with politics—there is Jara, present," he added.
A turnaround after years of defense for Havana
Castro's words come just days after Jara surprised many by admitting on television that Cuba "is clearly not a democracy", although she insisted that it must be the Cubans themselves who determine their political fate.
His change in tone is significant because, just in April of this year, the then Minister of Labor and recently proclaimed presidential candidate of the PC had denied that there was a dictatorship on the island.
On that occasion, he defended the Castro regime by asserting that "each people defines its own government" and blamed the U.S. embargo for the humanitarian crisis facing the Caribbean nation.
Jara's clarification, however, was not without nuances, as he avoided directly labeling the Cuban system as a dictatorship and reiterated that the blockade exacerbates the situation on the island.
The open wound of Cuba in the Latin American left
The shift of the candidate from the Chilean Communist Party has generated significant political and media uproar. While some sectors accuse her of incoherence, others emphasize that it reflects the social and electoral pressure in a country where the majority openly rejects authoritarian models.
The case of Jara not only reflects internal tensions within the Chilean left, but also revives an old debate in Latin America: to what extent should progressive parties continue to defend the Cuban regime, which has been accused for decades of human rights violations, lack of freedoms, and absence of plural elections?
For Cuba, its emigrants, and the citizens of the island, these international discussions are significant. Daily life, marked by scarcity, repression, and a lack of political options, becomes a campaign issue beyond its borders.
In Chile, the phrase “he has been de-communized” regarding Senator Castro may have come off as a joke, but it illustrates a change that resonates deeply with the symbolic weight of Cuba in the ideological struggles of the continent and the growing distance between the rhetoric of certain parties and the reality experienced by millions of Cubans.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jeannette Jara's Stance and the Political Context in Cuba
What did Jeannette Jara say about democracy in Cuba?
Jeannette Jara stated that "clearly, Cuba is not a democracy." While she acknowledged that the political situation on the island must be resolved by the Cubans themselves, this change in stance sparked extensive debate, particularly due to her affiliation with the Communist Party of Chile, which has historically been close to the Cuban regime.
Why did Jara's statements about Cuba generate controversy in Chile?
The statements caused a stir because they represent a shift from the traditional defense of the Cuban regime by the Chilean Communist Party. In April, Jara had denied the existence of a dictatorship in Cuba, but his recent comments acknowledge the lack of democracy, which some consider a political inconsistency.
How has this controversy affected the presidential campaign in Chile?
The shift in Jara's stance has sparked an internal debate within the Chilean left regarding its relationship with the Cuban regime. The controversy has led to accusations of inconsistency against the candidate, but it has also been interpreted as an attempt to capture the moderate and undecided vote. These tensions could impact the general elections in 2026.
What impact do these statements have on the perception of Cuba in Latin America?
The words of Jara reignite a debate in Latin America regarding the support for the Cuban regime by progressive parties. The Cuban regime has been criticized for human rights violations and lack of freedoms, which has led some leftist parties to reconsider their stance on Cuba.
What is the current situation regarding human rights in Cuba?
In Cuba, systematic violations of human rights are reported, including political repression, the lack of civil liberties, and the absence of plural elections. According to reports from international organizations, there are more than 1,000 prisoners for causes related to peaceful protest and dissent.
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