Cuban broadcaster Marisela Alfonso Madrigal has left Cuba with her wife Adriana Moenck, reportedly heading to Spain. Marisela shared two photos on her Facebook wall taken at José Martí International Airport, one of which shows her smiling and playfully displaying her OFICODA deregistration form.
According to her post, she leaves behind her parents who are awaiting their parole, her mother-in-law who lives in Bolondrón (a locality in Matanzas), and her two cats, who are "well taken care of" until she can bring them with her.
Leaving Cuba for a New Homeland
"I am leaving Cuba and flying to my other homeland, my motherland by genealogical right (...) after deregistering from the MLA (my ration book) and laughing when I read another one of OFICODA's slogans: 'Our mission is to guarantee our people's family basket, contributing to its protection,'" she wrote.
"Cuba hurts a lot. I hope they leave and let my Cuba be free, or better yet, that they are all exiled, all the reds, down with the PCC, the Castro dynasty, and that someone brave comes and ends everything, with everyone, and with you too, Canel," she added.
Marisela Alfonso holds Spanish citizenship. Last year, she spent a brief period in the Canary Islands where her son lives, after nearly five years without seeing him. Many thought she would stay in Spain, but she returned to Cuba in less than three months.
In January of this year, she married Adriana in Havana after more than a decade together. "We met on March 17, 2007, and they scheduled us for January 17, 2024. A little more and the dates would have matched. Of course, I didn't want it to be on January 8, because that's the day the SOB Fidel Castro entered Havana," she said in her wedding video.
For years, the broadcaster had not been practicing her profession and even received threats from State Security for her online posts criticizing the dictatorship.
Marisela Alfonso Madrigal's Departure from Cuba: Key Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions about the departure of Marisela Alfonso Madrigal from Cuba and the implications of her move.
Why did Marisela Alfonso Madrigal leave Cuba?
Marisela left Cuba reportedly heading to Spain, citing her dissatisfaction with the regime and her desire for a better life.
What did Marisela Alfonso Madrigal say about the Cuban regime?
Marisela criticized the regime, expressing hope that the PCC, the Castro dynasty, and current leader Miguel Díaz-Canel would be ousted.
Who did Marisela Alfonso Madrigal leave behind in Cuba?
She left behind her parents, her mother-in-law, and her two cats, who are being cared for until she can bring them with her.