Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro and nightlife influencer and entrepreneur in Havana, stated in an exclusive interview with CNN that his grandfather "was a person who had his principles," when asked what the leader of the Cuban revolution would think knowing that his grandson considers himself more capitalist than communist.
The interview, conducted in Sandro Castro's apartment in a neighborhood of Havana that frequently experiences power outages, takes place amidst the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in decades.
When the journalist asked him the question about Fidel, Sandro responded cautiously: "I'm going to talk about him... he was a person who had his principles. Everyone is who they are, obviously, but he also respected other people. I’m just saying, that’s my way of thinking."
In the same interview, the grandson of the founder of the Cuban dictatorship did not hold back in criticizing President Miguel Díaz-Canel: "I don't think he is doing a good job, because a long time ago he should have done many things that haven't been done well and that are now harming us."
Sandro Castro also acknowledged the hardships faced by the Cuban people, although he has his own electric generator, which puts him in a better situation than most of his fellow citizens.
"We must fight, as all Cubans say. It's hard, very hard… even for a Castro. You suffer from thousands of difficulties: one day there’s no electricity, no water, goods don’t arrive… it’s very tough," he stated.
When asked why so many Cubans hate the Castro family, he responded with a striking statement coming from someone with that surname: "The majority of Cubans want capitalism, not communism. And that has created differences and, sadly, hatred."
Sandro Castro, who has more than 150,000 followers on Instagram and owns nightlife businesses in Havana's Vedado, denied receiving any advantages due to his last name: "My last name is my last name. I am proud of it, of course, but I don't see the help you mention. I am just like any other citizen."
However, his lifestyle—which includes luxury cars and exclusive parties—contrasts sharply with the reality he describes and the one that the vast majority of Cubans experience.
In October 2025, Sandro Castro had already distanced himself from his grandfather's ideology by posting on social media: "Revolutionary yes. Communist no. I respect my country and government."
The New York Times dedicated an extensive profile on March 22, describing him as "the grandson of Fidel who satirizes the regime from privilege".
The interview with CNN takes place on the same day that a Russian tanker arrived in Cuba with over 700,000 barrels of crude oil, a relief that, according to analysts cited by correspondent Patrick Oppmann, will barely meet the country's energy needs for two weeks or less.
"Most Cubans want capitalism, not communism," insisted Sandro Castro, in a statement that summarizes the exhaustion of a model that no longer convinces even the descendants of its architect.
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