Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba needs to change and that the country can no longer continue functioning the same way.
In an interview broadcast by the Buenos Días Magazine of national television, the leader presented a package of economic reforms that will later be elaborated on by other officials.
"I believe that we will achieve a state, a government, organizations that have less bureaucracy, that are more dynamic, and that have greater capacity to adapt to the demands of the current times. These are times when change is necessary. The country cannot continue to function the same way," he stated.
In the midst of the extreme impoverishment suffered by the Cuban people due to decades of poor economic management by the regime, Díaz-Canel insisted that the new reforms should not increase social inequalities.
"There is always a perspective that encourages us to ensure that everything we do helps to avoid deepening social inequalities. On the contrary, we must seek a way for all our actions to contribute to addressing social inequalities and to attending to vulnerabilities," he added.
The statements are part of a government strategy that includes greater autonomy for municipalities and state-owned enterprises, the reduction of ministries, new openings for the private sector, and changes to the subsidy system.
Although Díaz-Canel's words suggest a willingness for change, the content of his message recalls numerous announcements made by the Cuban government over the last five years, without positive results.
The regime asks for trust from the Cuban people
«You must have confidence, the country is not at a standstill. The country is intelligently facing this entire situation. We can't say everything too clearly because the enemy is lurking in everything we do,» said the leader.
"The United States cannot forgive that, at this point, despite all the maximum pressure they have exerted, the Revolution still exists and the country continues to function. Even they don't believe what they keep talking about and repeating regarding a failed state," added Díaz-Canel, amidst the collapse of all services in Cuba.
This slow and triumphalist speech comes at the worst economic moment for the country. Cubans are enduring power outages of over 20 hours a day and a shortage of drinking water in their homes. There is no public transportation or fuel. Food is scarce, and essential products are inaccessible due to rampant inflation.
The promise to reduce bureaucracy, decentralize decision-making, and address vulnerable sectors has been a recurring theme in official speeches since the time of Raúl Castro and has resurfaced consistently in recent years, yet no structural transformations have occurred to reverse the economic decline.
While the ruler speaks of avoiding inequalities, reality presents an increasingly complex scenario. The gap between those who receive remittances and those who rely solely on state salaries has widened with the dollarization of the economy, while food shortages, prolonged blackouts, and continued migration are ongoing.
Many Cubans view these announcements of new measures and Díaz-Canel's promises of change with skepticism. They claim on social media that they no longer expect results from the socialist government.
The idea that "change is necessary" has been present in the official discourse for years, yet the daily lives of the population remain marked by issues that, rather than being resolved, continue to deepen.
Millions of Cubans want a radical change in government, and they want it now. Díaz-Canel's promises do not seem sufficient to achieve the results he forecasts.
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