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In light of the crisis affecting the country, the Cuban government has been compelled to postpone the 9th Congress of the Communist Party (PCC), originally scheduled for April 2026.
The decision was announced by Miguel Díaz-Canel at the XI Plenary of the Central Committee, where he read a letter from Army General Raúl Castro, another indication of who continues to hold power on the Island.
In the official statement, Raúl stated that the postponement "should not be seen as a setback," although he acknowledged that resources and the efforts of the leaders must focus on addressing the crisis.
"I consider it advisable to postpone the 9th Congress to a later date and to dedicate all the resources available in the country, along with the efforts and energy of the Party, Government, and State cadres, to addressing the current issues," the letter states.
According to the elderly General, postponing the event should not be viewed as a setback, but rather as a necessary and timely decision that will allow for an improvement in the situation and create conditions for a better Congress.
However, the reality shows that there has indeed been a retreat: the country is facing constant blackouts, chronic shortages, uncontrolled inflation, and an exodus that is emptying the Island, while the leadership turns the crisis into an excuse to maintain their grip on power.
Raúl's speech focuses on terms like "cohesion of forces" and "consolidating socialism," ignoring that the real urgency is to address the despair of millions of Cubans who live day by day with hunger, inadequate healthcare, and extreme restrictions.
The official rhetoric conceals the magnitude of the economic and social collapse, and insists on turning the crisis into propaganda.
A militarized regime anchored in the old guard
The postponement of the Congress coincides with a strengthening of military power within the regime's leadership.
The XI Plenary of the Central Committee promoted Army Corps General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo to a member of the Political Bureau, head of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).
This inclusion strengthens the presence of the old military guard loyal to Raúl Castro in the decision-making bodies of the country, a move that appears to respond to the need to maintain control against potential dissenting voices or demands for change.
Currently, four active army corps generals—Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Álvaro López Miera, Joaquín Quintas Solá, and Roberto Legrá Sotolongo—make up the core of military power.
Their presence confirms that, amid the crisis, the government structure prioritizes loyalty and control over management capability, consolidating a leadership that clings to the Castro legacy and the iron grip on the armed forces.
The continuation of a model that does not work
Meanwhile, the dictatorship insists on speeches of unity, resistance, and ideological battles, repeating slogans that no longer resonate with the populace.
The words of their rulers cannot hide the reality: the everyday life of Cubans is marked by blackouts, food shortages, a lack of medicines, and a massive emigration in search of opportunities outside the island.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz presented a program with hundreds of indicators and goals, but the regime's technocracy fails to translate into concrete solutions.
Government planning remains subordinated to the maintenance of political control, treating the economy as a tool of power rather than as an instrument for development.
In this context, the postponement of the Congress, which Raúl Castro tries to present as strategic prudence, is nothing more than an implicit acknowledgment of the regime's inability to meet its own deadlines and promises.
The crisis forces the government to focus on political survival rather than effective reforms, while the population continues to bear the cost of a management that is incapable of addressing their needs.
Cuba is thus facing a tangible regression: a Communist Party clinging to power, a strengthened military leadership, and a paralyzed economy, in a country that needs less propaganda and more real actions to ensure the dignity and rights of its people.
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