Friend of Lis Cuesta Criticizes Silvio Rodríguez's Latest Songs as "Outdated, Musically and Poetically"

The official journalist and friend of Cuba's unofficial first lady, Lis Cuesta Peraza, has declared that the latest songs by Silvio Rodríguez are "outdated, musically and poetically." This statement was made by the close associate of the Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel's wife, journalist and LGBTQ+ activist Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, more commonly known on social media as Paquito de Cuba.

His comment was posted in response to a social media post by ex-counterintelligence agent and retired journalist Manuel David Orrio del Rosario, one of the Cuban regime's informants who exposed the activities of independent journalists and dissidents during the so-called Black Spring. The "agent Miguel," who shares photos of naked women and similar posts on his Facebook, quoted a 2022 phrase from the singer-songwriter expressing doubts about the direction of the so-called "Cuban revolution."

"I find it a severe contradiction that political organizations insist on being so outdated, so out of touch with the rebellious, iconoclastic spirit that characterizes the youth of all eras. (...) I worry that the revolution (or what uses its name) may end up being counter-revolutionary and that what opposes it seems or ends up being revolutionary," said the troubadour, following the dismissal of the director of the university magazine Alma Mater in late April 2022. This event sparked criticism from both official and independent press sectors on the island.

Silvio, a well-known supporter of the Cuban regime, condemned the incident in a comment on his blog Segunda Cita. "What concerns me is that instead of opening up, the leadership continues to show signs of closing off. I find this extremely serious at this point," he added in his comment, although this phrase did not appear on Orrio del Rosario's Facebook post.

In the crosshairs of dogmatic sectors of the totalitarian Cuban regime, the intention behind "agent Miguel" partially quoting Silvio remains unknown. The author of El Necio, unusually critical in recent times, has expressed his disillusionment with the so-called "revolutionary process" and has echoed the unprecedented crisis the country is facing.

With strong statements for his usual narrative of Cuban reality, Silvio may be being used by regime sectors (such as counterintelligence officers) to send a message to the palace's occupants. Or perhaps Orrio del Rosario's intention was merely to highlight the troubadour's "soft" behavior and his ease in criticizing when the regime is at its lowest.

In any case, Silvio's phrase on "agent Miguel's" Facebook wall was answered by Rodríguez Cruz, who opined that "the songs on his latest album are equally outdated, musically and poetically."

"Said by a poet who could give Silvio poetry lessons," one of the many respondents to Paquito de Cuba replied sarcastically, criticizing his submission to power and his lack of talent in musical criticism.

"It's clear your taste runs to Raulito Torres"; "Paco plays with the chain but not with the monkey. Especially now that he no longer has to take the bus to work"; "Someone who has nothing to teach Silvio, nothing. Pathetic!"; "You are the real opportunist," various netizens told Rodríguez Cruz.

"The only thing outdated here is a gay man defending the system that once sent them to forced labor, closed ranks against their organizations, and repudiated them in society. I don't think there is anyone more homophobic than a communist, who calls anyone they want to offend a sissy, as if that were the worst insult in the world," added another user.

"I love how you 'revolutionaries' turn on each other for convenience," observed independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada in the comments.

"Anecdote of Emile Zola when he defended Dreyfus. In court, a French officer insulted him. Zola replied: 'We will see who history remembers, me or you,'" "agent Miguel" retorted to Rodríguez Cruz with squid ink.

A fervent defender of the totalitarian Cuban regime, blogger and journalist for Trabajadores, Rodríguez Cruz describes himself on social media as "Journalist and gay activist, father, and Communist militant, contentious and happy." He has frequently been seen with Díaz-Canel and his wife, who consider him, or at least call him "friend."

"Let me introduce you to another #DictatorOfMyHeart: my Paqui. #MyHumorBothersYou #CubaForPeace," Cuesta tweeted in July 2022, accompanying her post with a photo of the official journalist.

Rodríguez Cruz's words leave the question of whether they were spontaneous or if he was the emissary of a message from the "high spheres" to the troubadour to soften his critical voice in these "difficult times."

"Not even an eternal apologist for the dictatorship like Silvio Rodríguez is spared from the vitriolic attack of a talentless bootlicker like @Paquitodecuba. It seems that @liscuestacuba didn't like the troubadour's recent critical comments and sent her dog to bark," concluded a user identified as Liborio on X.