Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Cuban leader, defended the single-party system in front of young Americans, asserting that democracy is not about multiparty systems, but rather about people's ability to "exercise their rights." In a familiar tone of self-victimization, Díaz-Canel explained during the meeting, "People don't understand us when we say we have only one party, and they claim we are not democratic because we have only one party."
"Is the United States democratic because it has multiple parties? One party, the Republican party, implemented 243 measures to tighten the blockade, and the Democratic party maintained them. What's the real story? Is that democracy?" he rhetorically questioned. According to Díaz-Canel, democracy is not measured by the number of parties but by the "rights of the people."
"Is democracy measured by the number of parties, or is it truly measured by how people in a society can exercise and be protected by their rights?" he emphasized. Posting a clip of the meeting on the social network X, the leader claimed that "a better world feels closer and more possible when you meet the progressive youth of North America, when you explain our difficult daily life," and they call for the end of the "blockade."
During his tenure, Díaz-Canel has consistently reiterated that democracy does not lie in multiparty systems. However, he admitted two years ago that there is no separation of powers in Cuba but rather a "unity of powers," an idea that fundamentally contradicts one of the core principles of modern democracies as defined by political science, which is the independence of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
"In the world, there is much talk about the division of powers. The legislative power is generally in institutions that pass laws, the executive power is in the government, and the judicial power is in the courts, but in Cuba, we do not work with the division of powers. We work with the unity of powers through bodies that have different functions," the leader assured Cuban delegates, attempting to establish a doctrine on the issue.
He has also called for the single party to represent the entire population, although a significant portion of it is marginalized from state decisions and constantly denied their rights, such as opposition or dissident groups within the country.
Understanding Díaz-Canel's Defense of Cuba's Single-Party System
This section aims to address common questions and clarify the statements made by Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding Cuba's single-party system and its impact on democracy.
Why does Díaz-Canel believe democracy is not about the number of parties?
Díaz-Canel argues that democracy should be measured by people's ability to exercise their rights, not by the existence of multiple political parties. He believes that a single-party system can still protect and promote these rights.
How does Díaz-Canel justify the lack of separation of powers in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel claims that Cuba operates with a "unity of powers" instead of a separation of powers. He suggests that different bodies in Cuba have distinct functions but work together rather than independently.