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The great Cuban chess master Lázaro Bruzón reacted strongly this Friday to the recent public appearances of Miguel Díaz-Canel before the XXII Congress of the Central Workers' Union of Cuba, posting on his social media a message that encapsulates the frustration of millions of Cubans towards the ruler and the system he represents.
"I am sure that this feeling is not mine alone; 99% of Cubans share it. Seeing someone like Díaz-Canel as the face of our nation, spouting lies and nonsense without flinching, without consequences. He continues to represent the worst: malice, failure, the burden that keeps the country tied to the abyss. With so many good things to do, with so many valuable Cubans, and still having to endure this. Regrettable," wrote Bruzón.
The catalyst was Díaz-Canel's interventions at the Palace of Conventions in Havana, where the leader defended on Friday, the 26th, before 759 delegates — 561 connected via videoconference from the provinces, specifically due to the energy crisis — the package of 176 economic transformations approved on June 18 by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, and the Council of Ministers.
In his speech, Díaz-Canel denied that the reforms are a response to external pressures, asserting that the measures are not concessions to Washington but a sovereign decision. He also rejected the notion that they imply a drift towards capitalism, although he admitted that "more elements of private ownership, private production, capitalism, and market dynamics will necessarily be introduced."
His words contrast with a reality that the numbers themselves contradict. The CEPAL projects a 6.5% decline in Cuba's GDP in 2026, the worst in Latin America for the second consecutive year, while economist Pedro Monreal warns that the collapse could reach 15%.
Pensions are around 3,300 pesos per month, less than seven dollars, while a carton of 30 eggs in the private market costs 3,600 pesos. The basic cost of living exceeds 96,000 pesos per month and national food production has fallen by 67% over five years.
Monreal described the 176 measures as a "monster" or "deformed hybrid," noting that the verb "to allow" appears 29 times in the text, which reflects a logic of revocable concession, rather than the acknowledgment of a right. Additionally, he had previously pointed out the deeply anti-worker nature of the reform package. The U.S. State Department labeled them “superficial smoke signals” on the same day of their approval.
Bruzón's post sparked an avalanche of reactions from internet users who expressed shame, outrage, and exasperation. Many agreed that the ruler acts with complete indifference to the people's opinion, lying "with a cold calmness" knowing that no one believes him, and that the system rewards incompetence while punishing merit. One comment summed up the general sentiment: "Meanwhile, the country continues towards the abyss and the people suffer."
Bruzón, who left Cuba in 2018 and resides in Missouri, has been one of the recognized critical voices of the diaspora for years. On June 11, he criticized the regime's "cyber combatants", stating that "free Cubans speak from real profiles." He has also repeatedly declared that he will only return to the Island when the country is "free and democratic."
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