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The Cuban-American producer Emilio Estefan published an Instagram message this Sunday in which he expressed his hope for political change in Cuba and placed his trust in Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a key figure to achieve it.
"This is a moment of hope for Cuba. A country that has suffered so much — both the Cubans on the island and those of us who are outside, separated from our families and so many injustices," Estefan wrote in his post.
The producer emphasized Rubio's role with straightforward words: "The good thing is that we have Marco Rubio, one of ours, who knows the pain firsthand and is in a leadership position, and we trust that he will do the best for our people."
Estefan not only expressed hope but also issued a clear demand to the regime: "All those in the government must leave! We cannot allow the harm that has been inflicted on our people for so long to continue."
He also called for a generational renewal: "There must be a new generation, a new force, that drives the real change that Cuba needs."
The message arrives two days after Rubio stated from Paris, following a G7 meeting, that there may now be an opportunity for a regime change on the island.
The Secretary of State was emphatic in his conditions: "Cuba's economy needs to change, and that economy cannot change unless its system of government also changes. It's that simple." Rubio demanded a change in the people in charge, the system that governs the country, and the economic model.
That same day, President Donald Trump stated "Cuba is next", confirming that he is in negotiations with Havana through Rubio. The Cuban regime itself admitted on March 13 that its officials had started dialogues with representatives of the Trump administration.
Estefan's post comes at a time of deep crisis on the island. Since March sixth, Cuba has been experiencing a wave of protests featuring loud demonstrations, trash burning, and street blockades in several provinces. Last Thursday, protesters in Morón, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, broke into the headquarters of the Communist Party and set furniture on fire in the street following a blackout lasting more than 28 hours.
The energy crisis has worsened since January with the drop in Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, which halted the supply of 26,000 daily barrels of oil to Cuba. The Cuban GDP has decreased by 23% since 2019, with a projected decline of -7.2% for this year.
In exile, last Wednesday the "Free Cuba Rally" was held at Milander Park in Hialeah, where Senator Ileana García proposed Rubio as the Republican presidential candidate for 2028 and the exile applauded him.
Estefan had already anticipated this optimism in February when he stated on N+ Univisión 23 alongside Willy Chirino and Amaury Gutiérrez: "I believe that the people of Cuba are ready at this moment, this youth, give them the opportunity, and they can move forward."
Chirino agreed: "This time I have never felt so convinced that the other day is coming soon."
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