Cuban dictator Raúl Castro, 93, erupted in frustration during a Communist Party parliamentary session, slamming his fist on the table and chastising officials for their failures amid Cuba’s worsening crisis.
At a glance:
- Raúl Castro, the true power behind Cuba’s regime, criticized officials for their incompetence during a parliamentary session.
- Castro’s increased public appearances aim to signal stability as Cuba’s Communist Party faces mounting challenges.
- Prime Minister Manuel Marrero admitted the regime’s shame in importing sugar, a former hallmark of Cuban industry.
- Cuba plans an anti-U.S. rally to demand the lifting of the embargo and removal from the U.S. terrorism sponsor list.
Videos from the recent legislative session show the visibly upset Castro slamming a table and demanding his officials tackle Cuba’s mounting crises with determination. “Hand high and standing, and fists clenched, to face the problems with depth,” he reportedly ordered.
Cuba, once a global sugarcane powerhouse, now faces the indignity of importing sugar. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero called the situation “shameful,” blaming structural inefficiencies but failing to acknowledge the catastrophic impact of over six decades of communist policies.
“The army general [Raúl Castro] told us that it would be a shame to have to import sugar, and we are going through that shame,” Marrero admitted, referencing chronic shortages of electricity and fuel that have crippled the current harvest.
A “message of continuity” amidst rumors
Castro’s appearance comes amid speculation about his health following months of public absence. Recent sightings, including meetings with prominent regime loyalists, are seen as efforts to project stability during a time of severe economic hardship and political uncertainty.
Castro recently met with the “Cuban Five,” spies celebrated by the regime for infiltrating the U.S. exile community and aiding in the deaths of four Americans in 1996. The meeting marked the tenth anniversary of the spies’ return to Cuba under the Obama-era “Cuban Thaw,” which provided significant concessions to Havana.
Economic ruin under communism
Cuba’s economy has been brought to the brink by decades of communist mismanagement. Once the pride of the island’s economy, the sugar industry has been decimated under Castro-led policies, with no immediate recovery in sight. Marrero acknowledged the grim state of the sector but offered no substantive solutions beyond vague promises of improvements.
In the meantime, the regime continues to blame Cuba’s problems on the U.S. embargo, which it plans to protest in a “march of the combatant people” outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana. The rally will also call for Cuba’s removal from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
What’s next for Castro and Cuba?
While Castro is expected to attend Friday’s parliamentary session, his participation in the anti-U.S. rally remains uncertain. International observers continue to watch for signs of Cuba’s ability—or inability—to address its spiraling crises.
The session underscores the growing discontent within Cuba’s leadership, as even top officials like Marrero openly express dissatisfaction with the regime’s failures. Castro’s public outburst signals the challenges ahead as the Communist Party grapples with the nation’s deepening collapse.
