The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has expressed concern over a topic that, in her opinion, has yet to take center stage in the debate about Cuba: what will happen the day after the regime falls.
Beyond the departure from power of the current leadership, the legislator believes that the true challenge will be how to rebuild a country with no recent experience in democracy.
In an interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón, the legislator expressed confidence that 2026 will be a turning point. However, she quickly shifted the focus to what she considers the central issue.
“It's not about leaving the regime... it's about what comes next,” he emphasized, distancing himself from a narrative focused solely on political change.
A country without tools for democracy
Salazar was unequivocal in describing the repercussions of more than six decades of authoritarian rule on Cuban society.
“Cubans do not know how to govern ourselves… the Cuban on the island does not understand what democracy is, the laws, a primary, an election, a political party,” he stated.
In his view, the damage goes beyond politics.
“They stole not only the knowledge of God… but also the possibility of being citizens,” he stated, referring to what he considers a deep loss of civic and spiritual values.
The congresswoman even described those who have led the country as “tyrants, bandits, morally despicable,” blaming them for stripping the Cuban people of their civic education.
That lack, he noted, complicates any transition scenario.
“What is going to happen now? What will that transition be like?”, they wondered, revealing the lack of a clear plan for the immediate future of the island.
The Most Challenging Reconstruction: The Internal One
Although he acknowledged the material deterioration of the country, Salazar insisted that physical reconstruction would only be one part of the challenge.
"There is no electricity, no water, no food, no hospitals, nothing… all of that needs to be rebuilt," he described.
This diagnosis aligns with recent evaluations of the country's structural crisis, characterized by prolonged blackouts, widespread shortages, and the collapse of basic services.
Even so, he believed that this aspect is manageable. “All of this can be rebuilt... the physical can be reconstructed quickly,” he stated.
For the congresswoman, the most complex challenge lies in the social and human aspects. “The most difficult part is the internal one… the spiritual and emotional aspects are what interest me,” she explained.
In that context, he called for looking at international experiences as potential references.
"Where are the different models: the one from South Africa, the one from Spain, the one from the Soviet Union… that’s what every Cuban must be thinking," he said, referring to different paths of political transition.
Political pressure and expectations of change
Salazar's statements come amid increasing pressure on the Cuban regime from Washington, alongside sanctions, diplomatic engagements, and a rapidly deteriorating internal situation on the island.
The situation has been exacerbated by the energy crisis following the loss of Venezuelan supply, which has intensified blackouts and precariousness in the country, fueling expectations of a political outcome in the short term.
In that climate, voices within the exile community and in the U.S. Congress itself have agreed that the current system may not withstand this political cycle in the United States.
The congresswoman's central message was clear: the end of Castroism will not automatically solve the country's structural problems.
“They are going to leave… but what happens next?” he insisted.
His concern points to a scenario of institutional, social, and moral emptiness that, without prior preparation, could seriously hinder the establishment of a functional democracy in Cuba.
Rather than celebrating a potential change, Salazar emphasizes the need to anticipate it. Because, in his words, the real challenge begins right afterwards.
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