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While millions of Cubans endure blackouts, food shortages, and an unrelenting crisis, a prominent figure in the official discourse of the regime is touring Spain defending a reality that many both inside and outside the Island do not acknowledge.
This is Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, host of the state program Cuadrando la Caja, the wife of a grandson of Fidel Castro and aligned with the power elite, who on Tuesday delivered the talk “Imperialism in Communication: The Case of Cuba” in Gijón, as part of a tour organized by solidarity groups with the regime.
During an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Nueva España, Pérez Valdés insisted that Cuba is a victim of an international "media war" designed to discredit the government. He stated that the criticisms are part of propaganda campaigns aimed at "decontextualizing" the reality of the Island.
But his statements have sparked controversy once again.
In one of the most controversial points, he stated that Cuba is "one of the countries with the most freedoms in the world," denying the ongoing reports of censorship, lack of political pluralism, and repression.
Her words contrast with the current context in the country, where human rights organizations, activists, and independent journalists have reported an intensification of repression against those who express dissent.
In recent years, there has been a documented wave of arrests, surveillance, threats, and legal proceedings against protesters, opposition members, and independent communicators. The recent protest in Morón illustrates this.
Despite this scenario, the academic argues that the Cuban system guarantees rights and participation, in line with the official discourse that has also been upheld through television and social media.
"Regarding the political system, we have a single-party system, but it is a system where the party neither nominates nor elects candidates," the host noted, adding that "we are characterized by popular power organs and there is a constitution that was subjected to review and involved the participation of the population. Therefore, we do not believe that we lack rights; on the contrary."
The interview also addressed the international scene, where the official spokesperson launched an attack on the United States for the operation on January 3, 2026, in Venezuela, describing it as a manifestation of “imperialism” and even criticizing Venezuelans who celebrated what happened, labeling them as acting in an “irrational” manner.
This is not the first time that their positions have generated backlash. In 2025, they referred to those who criticized a program as “gusanos” in which it was suggested that Cubans should reduce their consumption of rice and potatoes amid shortages.
Doctor in Philosophical Sciences and former professor of Marxism at the University of Havana, Pérez Valdés not only defends the political model, but is also part of the elite connected to power. She is married to Fidel Castro Smirnov and has openly expressed her admiration for Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta.
During his tour of Spain, he insists on placing almost all the blame for the economic crisis on the Island on the United States, describing it as a prolonged “economic war.” While he acknowledges internal errors, he downplays them compared to the impact of external sanctions.
However, for many Cubans, everyday reality tells a different story: uncontrolled inflation, hospitals in crisis, a lack of medications, and a massive emigration that has emptied entire neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, Pérez Valdés maintains that the Cuban people "are not afraid" and uphold a spirit of resistance against any external threat.
His tour will continue in cities such as Oviedo and Avilés, in an effort to strengthen international support for the regime.
Meanwhile, inside Cuba, there is a growing sentiment of a widening gap between official discourse and real life, which continues to expand.
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