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The congratulatory message sent by Raúl Castro to Cuban women on March 8 sparked a wave of criticism, mockery, and demands on social media, where many users questioned the disparity between the official discourse and the daily reality faced by millions of women on the island.
The message, disseminated by the state media Cubadebate, was brief. “On their international day, we congratulate our exemplary women, in whom we recognize their dedication, participation, and ongoing contributions to the revolutionary cause. For all they have done and will do, a hug and a kiss,” reads the text signed by the former leader and dated in Havana on March 8, 2026.
The greeting, shared on social media alongside an image of the document signed by the former ruler, can be seen in the post circulated by Cubadebate on Facebook.
But in the comments on the post, responses quickly multiplied, many of them filled with sarcasm, indignation, and direct references to the economic crisis, blackouts, and the situation of political prisoners.
"As a gift, a revolutionary blackout," wrote a user.
Another comment summed up the feeling of frustration among many Cuban women regarding daily hardships: “Don’t send so many greetings; send food, electricity, and freedom instead.”
References to power outages — one of the most visible issues in the country in recent months — were constantly repeated in the comments. “And when will the electricity be back?” asked one user, while another joked, “Happy blackout day hahaha.”
The lack of electricity and the daily challenges of cooking or feeding the family also emerged as one of the most common issues. "My wife is cooking with charcoal, and when I went to congratulate her, she told me to get lost," wrote a user.
Other comments directly questioned the legitimacy of the message and the role of the government in the crisis the country is facing. “What hypocrisy, for God's sake; congratulations to all the everyday women,” noted one user.
There were also explicit calls regarding the situation of political prisoners in Cuba. "Freedom for political prisoners," was echoed in several comments.
Some responses used sarcasm to mock the gesture. “Congratulations to Raúl on International Women's Day,” wrote one user, while another ironically asked, “Did he congratulate himself?”
Other comments pointed directly to the economic crisis that the country is experiencing and its impact on Cuban women. "There are many Cuban women locked up in prison just for asking for freedom," another user recalled.
There were also messages that reflected the social exhaustion regarding the country's situation. "Congratulations, it must be for the hunger and all the types of needs that are being imposed on all the Cuban women from the grassroots," commented another person.
The criticisms arise in a particularly difficult context for the Cuban population, characterized by extended blackouts, food shortages, an economic crisis, and massive emigration.
In that scenario, the message from the former leader elicited an immediate reaction on social media, where many users pointed out that the words contrast with the reality faced by Cuban women in their daily lives. The message itself mentions the “revolutionary work” and acknowledges “what they have done and will do” for women in Cuba, a phrase that also sparked ironic comments. “And will do, they say...” responded one user.
International Women's Day also sparked criticism on social media due to messages posted by other members of the government on the island, amidst a context marked by an energy crisis and the decline in living conditions.
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