The Cuban activist Rosa María Payá stated this Friday that the solution to the crisis facing Cuba involves a complete change of the political system and the removal from power of those currently governing.
In a message shared through her profile on X, Payá stated that the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel “lies and tries to buy time,” and claimed that the only solution for Cuba is the establishment of a system based on freedom and democracy.
"Those in power need to leave," stated the commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) in a video where she urged the need to promote a political transition that would enable Cubans to build prosperity through their own labor.
According to Payá, the protests and pot-banging demonstrations that have been recorded in recent days reflect the growing discontent within the country and serve as a sign that a portion of the population is demanding an end to the current political system.
In her speech, the opposition figure emphasized that various democratic forces both inside and outside the island have united around an initiative called Agreement for Liberation, which outlines a roadmap for the release of political prisoners, the institutional reconstruction of the country, and the holding of free elections.
Payá pointed out that this proposal aims to lay the groundwork for a political transition and to address the humanitarian crisis the country is facing, the details of which, he announced, will be made known in the coming weeks.
The opposition leader's statements come just hours after Díaz-Canel appeared before the state media and admitted that Cuban officials have held conversations with representatives of the U.S. government, something that the regime had denied for weeks.
During the appearance, the leader also acknowledged the seriousness of the energy crisis affecting the island, characterized by prolonged blackouts, transportation paralysis, and difficulties in the operation of numerous sectors in the country.
Payá's statements add to other reactions from the exile community and political actors who view the current moment as one of increasing pressure on the Cuban regime.
For example, the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance stated at a press conference that the acknowledgment of conversations with Washington demonstrates that the regime is trying to buy time without implementing any real political changes.
The exile organization stated that Havana seeks to relieve international pressure while keeping the power structure intact, which is why they called for an intensification of sanctions and external pressure until a political transformation is achieved on the island.
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