Miguel Díaz-Canel will launch a new program on Cuban state media, this time from Radio Rebelde, where he promises to address the country's issues "with an open heart," promote "citizen participation," and even be accountable, after his previous presidential podcast disappeared without explanation.
The ruler announced this Wednesday from the studios of Radio Rebelde the launch of Criterio Compartido, a segment that he will host every two weeks alongside the official journalist Bárbara Betancourt, as part of the program Haciendo Radio.
“It is a program for participation, for citizen engagement. It is a program of transparency, because we are going to address all our issues with openness. It is also a program aimed at building consensus,” Díaz-Canel stated.
The promise of transparency comes at a time when Cubans are suffering from a deep economic crisis, prolonged blackouts, scarcity, and the deterioration of basic services, while the public appearances of the ruler often provoke skepticism among a portion of the population.
Last February, when a special appearance by Díaz-Canel was announced, numerous Cubans reacted with mockery and skepticism, especially due to the contradiction of broadcasting it amid the blackouts.
"Only those who have power will see it," one user then jokingly remarked. Others anticipated "more resistance with creativity" and "the same old thing," reflecting the fatigue generated by these types of official interventions.
The new space aims precisely to bridge that gap. According to Díaz-Canel, it will serve to "engage in a very connected dialogue with all our audience about the issues of Cuban reality, about concerns, about aspirations."
It remains to be seen, however, how far this announced citizen participation will go. It is also uncertain what opportunities Cubans will have to directly question the ruler and how the calls, opinions, and topics that will be aired will be selected.
The question takes on special significance due to the background of From the Presidency, the podcast that Díaz-Canel launched in March 2024 to discuss various issues facing the country alongside officials and leaders.
One of its latest episodes was dedicated precisely to one of the biggest controversies of 2025: the ETECSA rate hike.
The program was announced as a "critical analysis" following a wave of backlash against the new internet rates, which sparked protests and raised questions even among university students. CiberCuba then reported the significant dissatisfaction generated by the measures.
However, the hearing ended with officials explaining and defending the necessity of the measures. The president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, apologized for the way they were communicated, but upheld the rate increase.
Another episode of the podcast dedicated to the energy crisis was also questioned due to Díaz-Canel's lack of self-criticism. The leader then defended the official energy strategy and shifted part of the focus to the high electrical consumption, while millions of Cubans continued to endure prolonged blackouts.
From the Presidency, 32 episodes were published, but it stopped being updated after the program on ETECSA, released on June 5, 2025. Since then, there have been no new installments or any public explanation regarding the future of the project.
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