The brief appearance of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz via videoconference at the National Defense Council meeting on Friday, November 15, stirred discussions across Cuba due to the cast visible on his arm. The incident sparked immediate speculation about the leader's health and the reasons behind his "disappearance" from the Cuban regime's official media radar following his unsuccessful broadcast on Cuban Television on October 17. He was expected to address the "energy emergency" from Santiago de Cuba, which led to the complete collapse of the national electricity system the next day.
Following the disastrous television appearance, Marrero Cruz vanished from media coverage for nearly a month. The regime's state-run media eventually showed him in a Cuban Television News report, though his voice was absent and there was no mention of the cast on his right arm during the videoconference. On Saturday, Marrero Cruz took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing, "I appreciate the concern from those who noticed my absence. A workplace accident during tours of the eastern provinces has restricted my mobility and prevented me from being physically present with you."
An Opaque Explanation
While Marrero Cruz did not specify the nature of the accident or injury to his arm, he assured the public that he remains "active and participating remotely in the main activities and decision-making of the government." He added briefly, "Soon, I will be back in the field, as Fidel and Raúl taught us: Standing and fighting."
Leadership Health Concerns
In late August, Miguel Díaz-Canel also used his social media to inform the public about having his arm immobilized due to "severe discomfort." He thanked those concerned about his recovery, posting on X, "Many thanks to those who have worried about my arm in a sling and the excellent medical team that resolved severe shoulder discomfort."
He explained that his right arm was "temporarily immobilized"; however, "the left works fully, like the rest of the body. Brave and fighting for the country." For several weeks, the leader was seen "brave and fighting" with his arm in a sling, as the country faced a worsening energy crisis and the total collapse of its electrical infrastructure.