Miguel Díaz-Canel proclaimed this Wednesday, before an audience gathered at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana, that the legacy of Fidel Castro has reemerged with such strength that it should instill fear among his enemies, during the closing event of the I International Colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future" and the celebrations for the centenary of the dictator's birth.
«The Soldier of Ideas is back in a way that must terrify his adversaries: hundreds, thousands, millions of people of all ages and beliefs, in almost every part of the world, are expanding his legacy,» stated Díaz-Canel in his official speech, adding that this legacy serves to «forge new paths in the battle for the future, without surrendering, without selling out, without betraying.»
The event concluded a colloquium that, according to Díaz-Canel himself, gathered more than 1,500 participants from 63 countries —including 500 Cubans— over four days at the Palacio de Convenciones in Havana.
In his speech, the Cuban leader defined fidelism as "an honorable attitude towards life" rather than "professing a blind faith," and equated it to being "permanent fighters against imperialism and against all the injustices in the world."
He also quoted Castro himself to articulate what he called three "non-negotiable principles": "the country's independence, the revolution, and the values and the achievements that socialism represents".
Under this premise, Díaz-Canel announced that Cuba is advancing in "a challenging process of economic and social transformations, prioritizing the welfare of the people and social justice," referring to a package of 176 economic measures approved in June.
The announcement contrasts with the reality faced by the population: the Cuban economy is sinking while the tributes continue, with power outages lasting between 20 and 25 hours daily in some areas and a GDP contraction projected by CEPAL at 6.5% for 2026.
The speech also targeted Washington, describing the embargo as a “brutal and immoral imperial blockade that seeks the extermination of our people” and even referring to “genocide” against Cubans, in the regime’s usual rhetoric to evade responsibility for the structural crisis on the Island.
"When future historians look back in time in search of Fidel Castro Ruz, they will no longer see just a man; they will see his people and the millions who, inspired by his exemplary life, earned a place in history by standing firm against the most powerful and criminal endeavors and ultimately prevailing," concluded Díaz-Canel.
The event featured a silent protagonist of special significance: Raúl Castro, aged 95, occupied the front row alongside Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero.
The regime merely posted on social media that "the most loyal of all was present."
The reappearance of the former leader drew attention due to his pattern of absences in 2026. On July 26, he missed the central event commemorating the anniversary of Moncada for the first time in at least three decades, and Díaz-Canel had acknowledged in April that Castro is "retired for health reasons" and is "fragile due to his advanced age."
The regime declared 2026 as the "Year of the Centenary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz" in December 2025, with a commemoration agenda extending until December 4, which marks the tenth anniversary of Castro's interment at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
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