The troubadour and deputy Nelson Valdés had one of the most unusual moments of the Cuban parliamentary session on Wednesday by publicly expressing his affection for the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel.
His words were during the Seventh Ordinary Period of Sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power, held at the Palace of Conventions in Havana. They were recorded in the live broadcast of Canal Caribe, the state media that covered the legislative day with a special broadcast.
Valdés began his brief speech by greeting Army General Raúl Castro, who participated via video conference. He then recalled the example set by his parents, who were loyal to the Revolution, and concluded with a message of support for Díaz-Canel. He did not mention any of the issues facing the people of Cienfuegos, his hometown, or the rest of Cuba.
"It is an atrocious genocide what they are doing against Cuba, but they are also conducting a voracious campaign against those who have followed Fidel Castro's legacy. (...) They want to undermine with their campaigns the love, loyalty, and unwavering support that many of us have," he said.
Nelson Valdés lavished praise on the communist leader. "We see him as a father because he has been an example, enduring during the most difficult times, holding on to the legacy with the dignity of our historical leaders. He is our chief, but for me, he is also a father. He is Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and we will stand by him under any circumstances."
The troubadour added, “We are going to defend what he does every day for this country. We need to take good care of him. We need to help him and stand by his side because many of us know what he does every day for this country. He is another hero among the Cuban people, and we must take great care of him. Thank you, president! We love you!”
The scene began to go viral on social media. It stands out due to its unusual nature. The deputy expressed his personal affection for the president without contributing anything to the debate.
Cuban trova is a genre with a strong political tradition in Cuba. Historically, it is associated with figures like Silvio Rodríguez, who is also a member of Parliament. The fact that a delegate makes such statements about the leader illustrates the nature of the Cuban political system, where loyalty to the leadership is publicly displayed in institutional settings.
The session this Wednesday was called by the regime through Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 77, signed by the President of the National Assembly, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, on July 10th.
Among the bills scheduled for today are the Labor Code, the Agricultural and Forestry Land Law, the Housing Law, the Law on the Organization of the Central State Administration, and the Law on the Personal Identity and Address System.
In June 2026, the Assembly approved a package of 176 economic measures organized into 23 strategic axes, which include the authorization of private banking and the transformation of state enterprises into commercial companies.
On that occasion, Díaz-Canel defended the reforms by stating that "we are not renouncing socialism," although he also acknowledged that the model of external dependence that sustained Cuba for decades "was not sustainable."
The episode this Wednesday also takes place at a time when the regime has tried to suppress mockery directed at Díaz-Canel on social media, creating a striking contrast between the image the system projects internally and the perception it generates externally.
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