The Cuban announcer and presenter Rolando Zaldívar recently shared his thoughts on the fate of Cuba during what is also one of the most challenging moments of his personal life.
During a recent conversation in the space Conducta Dade, Zaldívar not only reflected on the crisis facing the island, but also on the need for a transformation that, in his view, must extend well beyond the political realm.
Zaldívar, known in Cuban radio and television in exile, has been at the center of public attention in recent months due to his struggles with drug addiction and his subsequent entry into a rehabilitation process.
In that context of personal recovery, the communicator has openly addressed the Cuban reality, clearly stating their position on the current political system and the future of the country.
“I want the freedom of Cuba… down with communism, long live a free Cuba”, he stated during the interview.
However, his statement was not limited to a political slogan.
Immediately, he introduced a nuance that he considers essential: "But a peaceful transition."
For Zaldívar, any change on the island must avoid scenarios of violence or social collapse that could further exacerbate the situation for the population.
His call, as he explained, is not only directed at Cubans inside and outside the country, but also to the international community, which he asked to attentively observe the complexity of the Cuban context.
When asked about his perspective on the reconstruction of Cuba, beyond the political debate, the host highlighted a problem he considers equally urgent: the deterioration of social values.
"Communism itself caused the loss of values," he stated; while arguing that decades of scarcity, crisis, and survival have profoundly altered the moral scale of Cuban society.
In their analysis, this transformation has created a dangerous distortion in the perception of right and wrong.
To illustrate this, he quoted an idea that he said he has heard repeated at different times: "There will come a time when the good will seem bad and the bad will seem good."
With this reflection, Zaldívar warned about what he considers a moral confusion accumulated over the years, where behaviors born as survival mechanisms—such as lying, deceiving, or seeking shortcuts—have ended up normalizing within the social fabric.
In his opinion, this deterioration will not automatically disappear with a change of system.
“We must save all that loss of values”, he insisted, pointing out that the future of Cuba will require not only political and economic reforms but also a profound social reconstruction.
His statements come at a time of intense debates within the exile community and among Cubans themselves, especially on social media, about what the transition in Cuba should look like
Her intervention is part of a broader discussion on responsibility, change, and national reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Zaldívar continues to face his own personal battle.
Rolando Zaldívar's personal battle for the future
In statements prior to Conducta Dade, he acknowledged his addiction problem and expressed his intention to change, summarized in a central idea: “saving oneself is the option we have left.”
His case garnered significant attention since November 2025, when he was arrested in Miami for petty theft and possession of cocaine, according to Miami-Dade County records.
The dissemination of his image at that moment—visibly thin—provoked numerous reactions of sorrow within the Cuban community.
Since then, various initiatives in South Florida have sought to provide support as he progresses in his recovery process.
The communicator's recent statements have elicited messages of encouragement on social media, where numerous users have wished him strength to move forward.
Regarding the future of Cuba, in Zaldívar's personal view, it will not only involve changing a system but also reconstructing a society that has learned to survive amidst scarcity and uncertainty for decades.
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