The Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer predicted this Tuesday, in an interview with Tania Costa for CiberCuba, that once the midterm elections in the United States are held on November 3, there will be significant shifts in Washington's policy toward Cuba that many do not anticipate.
Ferrer, founder of the Cuban Patriotic Union (UNPACU) and former political prisoner, made these statements a day after participating in the event “Free Cuba: The Oppression That Havana Hides”, organized by the U.S. mission to the UN and Archivo Cuba, where he was a victim of the rudeness of the regime's 'diplomats.'
"What is going to happen with Cuba is not reported by anyone, but everyone (with ties to the Trump Administration) says it is a priority issue and that the process of pressure and possible actions for Cuba to democratize has not been forgotten, has not been set aside, and has not been thrown in the trash," the opposition member stated.
Ferrer was explicit that this is his personal assessment, not confidential information relayed to him by his contacts in Washington. Even so, he was emphatic: "After November 3rd, at any moment, we will see things unfold that will not be surprising, but many will say, 'I thought this was already a trivial matter.'"
The opposition leader explained that the attention of the U.S. is currently focused on the electoral campaign, inflation, fuel prices, and the war in the Middle East, where Iran continues to issue threats against global trade and American allies. He stated that these factors have delayed more forceful actions regarding Cuba, but in his opinion, the window between November 3 and the inauguration of the new Congress in January presents a political opportunity.
As a concrete sign that pressure is already underway, Ferrer pointed out the accumulated judicial charges against Raúl Castro: the state arrest warrant signed in Florida on October 16 by Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and the federal indictment filed in May with seven charges related to the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996.
"The charges against Raúl, the state order, and the fact that there is already a federal one, serve as a reminder—not a reminder to be concerned, but a reminder of the steps that the moment requires and that the people of Cuba demand," emphasized Ferrer.
The opposition figure also painted a grim picture of the humanitarian situation on the island, comparing Havana to "Berlin at the end of World War II." "The nation is engulfed in extreme misery everywhere; the elderly roam the streets malnourished, begging for alms or dying in their homes."
"The moment demands real change, and if they don't understand that, they won't end well," Ferrer warned the Cuban regime.
Furthermore, he emphasized that popular demonstrations continue in various parts of the country despite the regime's repression, which in his opinion demonstrates that citizens are demanding real change.
The forecast from Ferrer comes just days before the annual voting of the UN General Assembly on the resolution regarding the embargo, scheduled for October 27 and 28, during which over 554 Cuban activists and organizations have urged democratic governments to vote against it or abstain.
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