Alejandro Gil Fernández is a Cuban leader who has served as Minister of Economy and Planning and Vice President of the Council of Ministers since July 21, 2018. On December 21, 2019, at the proposal of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, he was appointed by the National Assembly of People's Power as First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba.
Gil Fernández was born in Cuba in 1960 and prior to his appointment, he was the right-hand man of Ricardo Cabrisa, his predecessor as Minister of Economy, who left the position at the age of 81. Gil started as an official in the Ministry of Finance and Prices, where he rose to the position of First Deputy Minister.
Gil has faced multiple criticisms for managing an economy on the brink of collapse, enduring one of its worst crises since 1991, when the Special Period was declared. In May 2020, he appeared on national television as a government spokesperson to ask Cubans for monetary donations in pesos and CUC to finance food production, which sparked public outrage. Additionally, Gil has become the spokesperson for the shortages looming over the island for over a year during his regular appearances on the Mesa Redonda Informativa, frequently warning the public about the state's inability to meet the demand for food and essential products.
