José Daniel Ferrer accuses Díaz-Canel of using the interview in Newsweek to legitimize the regime

The opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer harshly criticized a recent interview granted by Miguel Díaz-Canel to the magazine Newsweek in Spanish, considering that the space was used by the ruler to try to legitimize the Cuban regime before the international community.

Through a message posted on his account on the social network X, Ferrer stated that the outlet has given visibility to "a criminal tyranny that is desperately trying to survive," amid international pressure and growing internal discontent on the island.

The opposition figure particularly questioned the call for "dialogue" expressed by Díaz-Canel in the interview, pointing out that it is not a genuine openness, but rather a process conditioned on the permanence of the Communist Party in power.

In that regard, he emphasized that a dialogue without political freedoms, pluralism, or free elections cannot be considered legitimate.

Ferrer also warned about the tone of the ruler's speech, considering the references to the doctrine of the "war of all the people" and possible consequences for the United States in the event of a conflict to be concerning. In his view, this reflects a strategy of pressure rather than one of openness.

In his message, he also reminded that the U.S. government itself has characterized the Cuban regime as a threat to its national security, in a context marked by alliances with countries such as Russia, China, and Iran.

The opposition leader also questioned the editorial decision of Newsweek en Español to publish the interview without including voices from the democratic opposition, which he deemed a lack of informational balance in a country where dissent faces repression.

Ferrer’s statements come at a time when the Cuban leader has publicly reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, although without agreeing to changes in the island's political system.

Finally, the opponent insisted that Cuba does not need a dialogue to maintain the current model, but rather concrete actions that would allow for progress towards a democratic transition with guarantees of rights and freedoms for all citizens.