Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer criticized the Cuban regime on Friday after Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly acknowledged conversations with the United States, accusing the ruling elite of systematically lying about the issue.
In a statement issued after listening to the president's appearance, Ferrer described them as "pathological liars" and presented the official acknowledgment as a confirmation that the regime had denied the existence of contacts that, he claimed, had already been in place for weeks.
Ferrer reacted particularly harshly against Díaz-Canel, whom he called a "dictator" and a "puppet."
“I'm listening to dictator Díaz-Canel. What planet does this individual live on?”, he expressed at the beginning of his message.
He then linked the country's situation to the regime's hold on power and stated that the "terrible reality" that Cuba is experiencing "because of them" demands their "swift downfall."
The core of his criticism focused on the acknowledgment of negotiations with Washington.
Ferrer stated that "finally" the Castros told Díaz-Canel that they were having conversations with the United States, although he added that they conveyed it to him "poorly."
According to his assessment, the ruler expressed himself in a way that “seems like he was telling a science fiction story,” indicating that the version publicly presented by the leader is not credible to him.
Ferrer's reaction suggests that he interprets the acknowledgment of contacts with the U.S. not as a new fact, but as a late acceptance of something that the Cuban authorities already knew and had concealed.
In this regard, his accusation of "pathological liars" directly highlights the contrast between the regime's previous denials and its later acknowledgment of the conversations.
A message to the tyrants
The opposition figure also questioned other parts of Díaz-Canel's speech. In particular, he referred to the president's remarks about Cubans abroad.
According to Ferrer, the ruler reached "the record of cynicism of his masters the Castros" at that point. He dismissed the idea of widespread support from the Cuban diaspora for the regime and asserted that the number of Cubans abroad who support the authorities is "minimal."
In contrast, he stated that the majority participate in demonstrations "around the world" against tyranny.
In his message, Ferrer turned that discrepancy into a broader moral and political challenge. “What self-respecting Cuban can be in favor of the tyranny that has destroyed our homeland and forced millions of Cubans to leave our country?” he asked.
With that statement, he linked the Cuban exile to the historical responsibility he attributes to the regime for the deterioration of the country and the massive emigration.
He also mentioned Díaz-Canel's reference to the aid from Mexico and the president's praises for Claudia Sheinbaum.
On that point, he accused the regime of concealing the true destination of the humanitarian aid.
He asserted that the aid that "falls into their hands" is sold, and that the focus is on "the coffers of the leaders and the ranks of the repressive forces."
The context of negotiations
Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials have held discussions with representatives of the United States government aimed at "seeking solutions through dialogue to bilateral differences."
He specified that the conversations have been conducted at the highest level: "Led by the Army General as the historical leader of our revolution and by me, and in coordination with the highest structure of the party, the state, and the government," he affirmed, making an explicit reference to Raúl Castro.
The announcement marks a 180-degree turn from the official stance maintained for weeks.
Díaz-Canel himself had denied the existence of such conversations in January, limiting them to "technical contacts in the migration field."
In February, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated that "that dialogue has not started." On March 10, the regime denied negotiations again.
Díaz-Canel outlined four purposes of the conversations: to identify the most serious bilateral issues, to find solutions, to determine the willingness of both parties, and to explore areas of cooperation for regional security.
He also noted that "there are international factors that have facilitated these exchanges" and that the Cuban side insists that the process develop "on the basis of equality and respect for the political systems of both states."
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