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The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that he will appear once again before the media this Friday, March 13, at 7:30 AM to discuss "issues of national and international relevance," as reported by the official outlet Cubadebate. The intervention will be broadcast nationwide on radio and television, as well as through the digital platforms of the state press.
According to the announcement, the exchange will continue the one that took place on February 5, when the leader held an appearance that sparked strong criticism and mockery among Cubans on social media.
However, even before the new intervention arrives, the announcement has already sparked a flood of comments filled with irony, skepticism, and fatigue from users who reacted on the Cubadebate post itself.
Many Cubans anticipate that the speech will not bring any concrete announcements. "A bit more of the same," wrote one user, while another sarcastically commented, "I already know the song."
Others even doubt that the appearance is truly live. "Will it be recorded instead?" asked one user, a comment that sparked similar responses like "Recorded again."
The everyday problems faced by millions of Cubans also quickly emerged in the reactions. Several users questioned whether there would be electricity at that time to watch the broadcast, amid the prolonged blackouts affecting much of the country.
"And will we have electricity to listen to it?" a woman asked. Another comment quipped, "We'll see if we have power."
The chosen date for the appearance did not go unnoticed either. The fact that it falls on a Friday the 13th led to jokes and sarcastic comments. “Friday the 13th… nothing good comes from that,” wrote a user.
Some comments even anticipated what they believe will be the content of the speech. "More creative resistance," joked an internet user, referring to one of the most criticized expressions from the official discourse to describe the need to endure the crisis.
Others were more direct in their frustration. "In the end, nothing ever gets said, and even less do they provide solutions," lamented a user.
The announcement comes just weeks after the February 5 appearance, which sparked a flood of outraged reactions during its live broadcast. At that time, many Cubans described the speech as “pure nonsense,” “lies,” and “more of the same,” considering that the president spoke for long minutes without providing concrete solutions to urgent issues such as food shortages, power outages, lack of medications, and the economic crisis.
Critics also pointed to the absence of an independent press during the exchange and what many described as questions that had been pre-prepared by official journalists.
With that recent background, Díaz-Canel's new appearance is shaping up on social media more as a source of memes and sarcasm than as a source of real expectations for a population worn out by the crisis the country is facing.
Now, many Cubans say they hope —at the very least— that there will be electricity to be able to see it. However, according to numerous comments, few believe they will hear anything different from what they have been hearing for years.
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