Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz insisted this week that the government will continue to promote changes in Cuba, although he made it clear that these transformations will not affect the foundations of the socialist system or the principles of the Communist Party, according to statements gathered from his public speeches and on his official social media profile.
Marrero's speech about the changes has been repeated since January, when he urged the Council of Ministers to find a different way to face 2026, acknowledging that the economic results did not meet expectations despite norms and decisions that had already been approved.
In meetings with Party officials and provincial governments, the prime minister called for a "radical change in mentality" and warned that "one cannot act as if everything is normal."
However, Marrero was clear about the limits of those changes: "We are not going to change the foundational roots of our revolution, nor our principles, nor our socialist system," he stated on January 29.
Among the specific measures announced, the government approved in March the decentralization to the municipalities for the approval of economic actors, both state and non-state, with the aim of transforming them from being "passive links" in local development.
In May, the Council of Ministers approved the Economic and Social Program 2026, focused on budget control, increasing revenue, and reducing expenses, without a fundamental economic liberalization.
Marrero himself acknowledged that the modular housing program "is not progressing at the desired speed" and that the government's challenges have been exacerbated by what the regime calls "intensified blockade" and "energy siege," attributing the crisis to external factors rather than the economic model.
This Wednesday, while Marrero took part in the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Popular Camping in Mayabeque, Cuba was experiencing blackouts lasting over 20 hours and street protests in several provinces.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stepped forward to defend Raúl Castro against the federal accusation from the U.S. Department of Justice related to the shooting down of the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in 1996, describing the charge as a "scurrilous accusation" and a "despicable and infamous act of political provocation."
Marrero stated that the accusation "exposes Washington's lack of arguments and its inability to subdue Cuba," and referred to Hermanos al Rescate as a "narcoterrorist organization," defending the downing of the aircraft as an act of "legitimate defense."
The contrast between the official discourse of transformation and the reality of prolonged blackouts, scarcity, and citizen protests illustrates the gap between the government's promises and the crisis faced daily by the Cuban people.
Filed under: