Catalina Lufín, president of the Communist Youth of Chile (JJCC), sparked a new controversy by asserting that she does not consider Cuba a dictatorship and attributing the criticisms of the regime, among other reasons, to the lack of economic prosperity on the island.
The statements were made during the program "Aquí se Debate," from CNN Chile, when the communist leader was directly questioned about the Cuban political system.
"I do not consider it to be a dictatorship," Lufín responded.
The leader also questioned what she sees as a double standard in evaluating Cuba compared to other governments: "It seems that the standard is not the same for China; the great sin of Cubans is not having economic prosperity."
His words sparked controversy because they reduce the debate on the Cuban regime to the economic situation, despite reports from international organizations and independent groups regarding political prisoners, the persecution of opponents, and restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and the press.
When asked about human rights, Lufín defended their importance but compared the situation in Cuba to social issues in Chile.
"I have no problem stating that respect for Human Rights is an essential issue. I believe that health is a human right, and here in Chile, it is not guaranteed," he stated.
In Cuba, Prisoners Defenders reported 1,339 political prisoners in August, while the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) during the first half of 2026, according to a report released in July. Freedom House continues to categorize the island as "not free," and Reporters Without Borders ranks it 160th out of 180 countries in its global press freedom ranking.
Lufín's position is not new within the Chilean Communist Party. In April 2025, the then-presidential candidate Jeannette Jara denied that Cuba was a dictatorship and described its system as "democratic but different." Months later, she corrected herself and acknowledged that "clearly Cuba is not a democracy."
In August of last year, the president of the Communist Party of Chile, Lautaro Carmona, also stated that Cuba "is a democratic system, from a historical perspective".
During her intervention, Lufín also criticized the government of President José Antonio Kast, who took office on March 11 of this year after winning in the presidential runoff. The leader spoke of an "authoritarianism that does not allow them to govern according to their rules," although she acknowledged that Kast came to power democratically.
"In a very short time, unfortunately, the right has proved to be poor in the areas it claimed to excel in, such as security, the economy, and patriotism," he stated.
The differences within the Chilean left regarding Cuba were particularly highlighted in January, when former president Gabriel Boric referred to the Cuban regime as a dictatorship, prompting a reaction from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who accused him of "political opportunism."
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