The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that five of the 176 economic and social measures announced by the Cuban regime still have their implementation procedures pending, despite the Government claiming to have approved 215 legal standards to support these measures.
The official described them as the most controversial of the economic program, although he did not specify which ones they are or explain the reasons for the controversies that have delayed the conclusion of their processes.
The statements were gathered this Monday, November 2, by the Cuban Presidency, during a recap of a meeting with over fifty executives who participated in a training exercise on the reforms, held at the Higher School of State and Government Leaders.
According to Díaz-Canel, by the end of October, 171 out of the 176 measures had their legal foundations completed, and 215 regulations had been approved to support their implementation.
The president assured that work is ongoing on the necessary provisions for the remaining five, but he did not provide a timeline for completing the procedures.
Five months of announcements and hundreds of legal provisions
The 176 measures were presented in June by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz before the National Assembly of People's Power.
The package, organized into 23 thematic axes, includes modifications in almost all sectors of the economy: from wages, pensions, and subsidies to foreign trade, foreign investment, banking, the operation of state-owned enterprises, and private activities.
Among the most significant proposals are the authorization of private financial institutions, the establishment of private currency exchange services, the expansion of investment opportunities, and the easing of certain restrictions on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Changes were also announced in salary policy, pricing formation, marketing of agricultural products, and the gradual elimination of generalized subsidies.
The magnitude of the modifications compelled the Government to promote a comprehensive legislative review.
In June, the authorities acknowledged that it would be necessary to modify more than 148 legal provisions and approve another 32 higher-ranking regulations to support the anticipated changes.
Since then, official reports have primarily focused on the number of prepared measures and approved provisions.
In July, Díaz-Canel announced that 120 measures were ready to be implemented. In September, Marrero increased the measures to 155 that had legal backing.
Later, on October 2, the Government announced that 197 regulations had been approved and 160 implementation proposals had been developed.
A month later, Díaz-Canel reports a total of 215 approved measures and 171 transformations with their legal foundations completed.
However, the report released this Monday does not provide comparable economic results that would allow for an assessment of the combined impact of these measures on production, inflation, wages, or supply.
Economists question the lack of measures to stabilize the economy
Beyond the legal progress announced by the Government, independent specialists have questioned the design and scope of the program.
In August, Cuban economist Pedro Monreal warned that the 176 measures lacked a specific focus on macroeconomic stabilization, an omission he deemed particularly severe amidst monetary imbalances, inflation, and declining production.
Monreal questioned the Government's attempt to introduce structural changes without first establishing a coherent framework to stabilize the economy.
The specialist summarized his critique with the expression "putting the cart before the horse."
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