Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that the Cuban revolution eliminated "all the miseries, the evils" that existed on the island and that Cubans today have "more things and more guaranteed rights than at any other time in history."
The statements are part of an interview granted to former Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias during his visit to Cuba, a segment of which was published this Monday on the Spanish communist's X account and gathered over 142,000 views.
The interview, which will be aired on Canal Red América Latina, arose in the context of the international convoy "Nuestra América," which transported more than 20 tons of humanitarian aid to the island.
In the circulated clip, Díaz-Canel also addressed the viral gesture of singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez, who on March 20 received a real AKM rifle during an official ceremony for National Defense Day after publicly demanding the weapon on his blog in response to threats from President Donald Trump.
Díaz-Canel described Silvio's gesture as "symbolic" and presented it as an expression of the people's will: "What Silvio says is a symbol of the conviction of the majority of the Cuban people."
At the same time, he insisted that Cuba is not seeking confrontation: "We do not want war. We want dialogue," although he added that he and his family are willing to give their lives for the revolution.
The leader invoked "a history of more than 150 years of revolution" to justify his speech and listed the ills that, according to him, the revolutionary process eradicated: colonial humiliation, neocolonialism, the "puppet" governments of the United States, and the dominance of American companies over Cuban resources.
"Even in these difficult times, in Cuba, we have more resources and more assured rights than at any other moment in history. And that is not lost," he stated.
These statements stand in stark contrast to the situation faced by the Cuban population. The island has gone three months without receiving diesel or fuel oil, with power outages lasting between 20 and 30 hours daily affecting 64% of the territory. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts an economic contraction of 7.2% in 2026, which represents a cumulative decline of 23% since 2019.
Díaz-Canel also revealed in the interview that Cuba is implementing a "plan to elevate the defense preparedness of the entire population," based on the doctrine of the "War of All the People".
He described the plan as defensive and centered on popular participation: "Every Cuban knows what role and mission they need to play in the defense, and the majority of our people are willing." In February, the leader had already supervised military maneuvers in access to Havana.
Iglesias's visit to Cuba sparked a wave of criticism among Cubans both on and off the island, who pointed out the contradiction of downplaying the Cuban crisis after meeting with the Communist Party. A Cuban resident in Spain even went so far as to challenge Pablo Iglesias to live a month in a Cuban home.
The interview with Díaz-Canel was described by numerous observers as a propaganda exercise of the regime amidst the worst humanitarian crisis the island has experienced in decades.
Between the official narrative and historical evidence
Díaz-Canel's claims about a supposed total eradication of "miseries and evils" in Cuba reflect a political narrative that combines real facts with significant distortions.
Historical evidence and data from international organizations present a much more complex picture that contradicts the official narrative.
Before 1959, Cuba was not a devastated country lacking basic services, as the official discourse suggests. On the contrary, it ranked among the most advanced economies in Latin America in several key indicators.
By the late 1950s, the island recorded one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the region, a life expectancy close to 62 years (among the highest), and per capita income levels that placed it among the top in the continent. Access to education and healthcare was present, though not universal or equitable.
It is true that the country faced significant structural problems. There was a marked inequality between urban and rural areas, with large sectors of the peasant population living in precarious conditions, and the economy was heavily dependent on sugar and the U.S. market.
Moreover, the presence of foreign capital, especially from the United States, was significant in strategic sectors. However, these companies did not operate outside the country: they generated employment, investment, and paid taxes, although they also contributed to a real economic dependency.
After 1959, the new system significantly expanded the coverage of social services, especially in education and health, bringing them to nearly universal levels. However, these advancements did not emerge from a prior vacuum, as propaganda suggests, but were built upon an already existing foundation.
The most significant contrast appears today. While the government insists on discussing "more rights and more guarantees," international organizations are warning of a profound crisis: sustained economic contraction, shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, as well as a general deterioration in living conditions.
In relative terms, Cuba has shifted from being among the most dynamic economies in the region to a lagging position, characterized by a heavy state dependency and severe material constraints.
In this context, the official narrative does not withstand rigorous comparison. The revolution did not transform an underdeveloped country into a prosperous one; rather, it modified an unequal and dependent model, replacing it with another that, despite some relative social achievements, has led to a prolonged structural crisis and a restriction of fundamental freedoms.
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