Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has lashed out at his fellow citizens who criticize him on social media, accusing them of being part of a campaign against the revolution. During the closing of the session of the National Assembly of People's Power, he lamented the difficulty of browsing the Internet without encountering a flood of obscenities, insults, and lies designed to malign those in positions of authority.
"It's shameful to see Cubans, born and raised here, and professionally trained in this nation, exuding hatred, rage, and contempt against the very country that nurtured them, as if they feel aligned with the chaotic and brutal North that despises them," he stated.
"Yes, they do despise us, and yes, they inundate us with vulgar, obscene, and hate-filled content on social media," Díaz-Canel asserted at another point during his speech.
This is not the first instance where Díaz-Canel has used derogatory language to describe those who oppose the official narrative of the regime. Less than two months ago, he denounced those who protested the power outages, following the collapse of the national electro-energy system that left the entire country without electricity for over three days, as drunks and indecent.
In an appearance before the National Defense Council, the leader demonstrated a "firm hand" by issuing clear threats to crack down with the full force of the totalitarian state on those who protest.
"...there are some people, a minimal number, mostly inebriated, who have behaved in a... eeeh... indecent manner," he remarked to the press.
Impact of Social Media Criticism on Cuban Politics
What accusations has Díaz-Canel made against online critics?
Díaz-Canel has accused his online critics of participating in a campaign against the Cuban revolution, filled with obscenities and lies aimed at discrediting those in authority.
How did Díaz-Canel describe the protesters of the power outages?
He referred to the protesters as drunks and indecent, suggesting that the majority were inebriated and behaving inappropriately.