The jurist and political scientist Roberto Veiga González, director of Cuba Próxima, stated that Miguel Díaz-Canel is not a political leader but merely an executor of party orders, in comments made regarding the interview that the Cuban leader granted to Brazilian journalist Breno Altman on April 22.
"In Cuba, to lead, one must be loved or feared. And he is neither loved nor feared. He is a party figure, like a party mission. A Stalinist party, moreover. And he fulfills the party's assignment," Veiga stated in comments made to CiberCuba.
The analysis by Veiga is devastating regarding the capabilities of Díaz-Canel as a ruler: "He is not a politician; he is not a political leader. He has never assumed the role of political leader that was required in Cuba."
Veiga also pointed out the president's lack of communication skills: he does not generate new ideas, repeats slogans, and lacks freshness in his speech.
As an example of his executive incompetence, Veiga pointed out that Díaz-Canel blamed the tariffs imposed by Washington in January 2025 for the collapse in garbage collection, when that service had already been failing for some time. "He says we can't collect solid waste since the United States imposed tariffs in January. Excuse me? If the garbage hasn't been collected since last year," he remarked sarcastically.
To explain why Díaz-Canel remains in power despite everything, Veiga cited the thesis of a European political scientist who studies Cuba in depth: "The Cuban elite, the leadership of Raúl Castro and his circle have decided to keep someone there who is capable of doing something. Until they have clarity on the direction they want to take. Then they will be able to find someone to lead the country down that path."
Veiga acknowledged that this explanation frightens him: "And I don't know if it's right because it seems terrifying to me. The country could collapse first. But it's logical. It's logical."
The political scientist also analyzed why Raúl Castro did not implement the so-called "guidelines" for economic reform that he so widely promoted. According to Veiga, two factors prevented him: the fear of losing control of a society that was becoming too dynamic too quickly, and the warnings from European heads of state who pointed out that risk to him. In his view, the 2016 Party Congress marked a turning point in the definitive abandonment of those reforms.
Regarding Díaz-Canel's interview with Altman, Veiga noted that the leader appeared more relaxed and coherent than usual, which he interprets as a sign that the negotiations with Washington may be progressing more than is publicly acknowledged. "Clearly, this interview he is giving, and this one in particular, is part of the management of the negotiations taking place between the Plaza de la Revolución and the White House," he stated.
In that same interview, Díaz-Canel described the conversations with the United States as being in a very preliminary and initial phase, dismissed the possibility of negotiating changes to the political system, and warned that it is possible they may attempt to aggress against Cuba, so the country must prepare militarily.
Filed under: