During a recent trip to Cienfuegos, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Cuban leader, asserted his confidence that Cuba will overcome its current systemic crisis by refining its socialist framework. "Our country remains committed to its socialist construction model, which we must enhance and continue to work on, even in the most challenging circumstances," declared Diaz-Canel, who also serves as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), during his visit covered by the National Television News of Cuba (NTV).
Addressing a small group of local residents, Díaz-Canel displayed a puzzling optimism, stating that "Cuba will move forward" with the "talent and participation" of its people. He reinforced the notion that the Cuban regime has no intention of abandoning the propagandistic pillar of "socialism."
The Reality Behind the Socialist Facade
As Cuba increasingly drifts away from the ideological tenets and economic models of so-called "real socialism," veering toward a more brutal and unequal state capitalism, the regime's elite insist on the narrative that socialism is "irrevocable" in the nation. This idea is enshrined in the constitution passed by the regime in 2019. The Cuban regime uses socialism as justification for the decisions made by the extractive elite who hold power through force. This pretense serves the interests of a new oligarchy seizing national wealth and selling the country at a bargain.
In January 2019, Díaz-Canel attempted to placate public dissatisfaction by stating, "A socialist government will always have reserves to ensure no one is left destitute," following a tornado that wreaked havoc on popular neighborhoods in Havana. His comments aimed to quell discontent over the government's attempts to monopolize control and distribution of aid to the affected areas, which suffered four fatalities, over 5,000 evacuations, 195 injuries, and nearly 1,900 damaged homes.
Defending the Socialist Path Amidst Crises
In June 2020, Díaz-Canel published an article in the journal of the Academy of Sciences, criticizing neoliberalism and advocating for state control as the sole solution to combat the coronavirus epidemic. "We have affirmed the ability of the planned economy and the Cuban socialist health system to control outbreaks and provide safe care to the entire population," he remarked. "There is no mystery in that skilled and talented force working towards a common goal: socialism. An imperfect socialism, burdened with limitations we must shed along the way, yet inherently human and just, unlike any other system in history," he added.
In April 2022, he reiterated that changes in Cuba must align with socialism from a Marxist perspective, a notion he repeats in every PCC report and meetings with his ministers. "The solutions and transformations proposed must align with socialism and be viewed through a Marxist lens," he asserted.
Unwavering Commitment to a Socialist Future
In October 2023, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed his dedication to the vision of constructing a 21st-century Cuban socialism despite the nation's challenges. "We've always had to face circumstances and attempts to slow us down. But one day we will achieve our goals, Arleen, one day we will!" he told his close friend, journalist Arleen Rodríguez.
In response to rising public discontent and worsening living conditions on the island, Díaz-Canel quoted Vladimir Ilich Lenin on the patience needed for socialism's construction. "It matters little when, within what timeframe, and in which nation the proletarians will complete this work. What is essential is that the ice has been broken, the path opened, the direction indicated," was the Lenin quote he chose to commemorate the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution on November 7, 1917.
Beyond patience, he emphasized that building socialism requires "consciousness," as he passionately explained during a July meeting of the Council of Ministers. "[We are here] with the conviction that we are all here to save the revolution and save socialism. And remember, building socialism requires consciousness... it requires consciousness... and the formation of individuals who behave differently in society."