The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that he sees himself as “a result” of the revolution, and his comment immediately brings to mind an ideal of the regime: the creation of the new man.
During an interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Díaz-Canel reflected on his family background, his education, and his commitment to the continuity of the political system in Cuba.
He described his journey as a reflection of the changes brought about by the 1959 revolution. The son of a teacher and a worker in the brewing industry, he asserted that he grew up in an environment marked by values such as discipline, education, and a sense of service.
“ One has grown with the feelings of the people. I was able to appreciate in my childhood and youth the progress and transformations of the revolution. Therefore, I also consider myself a product of that growth process,” he expressed.
The leader emphasized the influence of his family on his ideological development. He mentioned his mother as an educator, his father's work ethic, and the impact of close figures, such as a "very Martian" grandmother who encouraged his reading habits, and an aunt connected to communist thought.
He also emphasized the social environment in which he grew up in Santa Clara, characterized —as he stated— by "family and neighborhood harmony," elements he considers decisive in his personal and political development.
Díaz-Canel's statements indirectly evoke the concept of the "new man" developed by Ernesto "Che" Guevara in his essay Socialism and Man in Cuba. In that text, the Argentine guerrilla argued that the construction of communism required not only material changes but also the shaping of an individual influenced by revolutionary values.
The Cuban ruler did not explicitly mention that idea, but his self-definition as a product of the revolutionary process alludes to that communist ideological aspiration: a citizen shaped by the principles of the socialist system and committed to its continuity.
Díaz-Canel also reaffirmed his loyalty to the current political project in Cuba, in a context marked by a deep economic and social crisis. “I have a tremendous commitment to ensuring that this process continues (...) I am ready to act, no matter the consequences,” he stated.
His words come at a time when the governments of Cuba and the United States have confirmed that they are engaged in diplomatic talks. The Cuban opposition in Miami has made it clear that they will not be satisfied with a cosmetic change. From exile, and also within the island, millions of Cubans are calling for the end of the communist regime. However, Díaz-Canel has made it clear that he does not intend to relinquish power.
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