By Oscar Figueredo Reinaldo, Dianet Doimeadios Guerrero
At the close of the Third Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of People’s Power in its 10th Legislature, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, delivered a speech addressed “primarily to the heroic Cuban people,” whom, he said, the deputies have “the duty and the honor to represent.”
Díaz-Canel affirmed that the country is going through an exceptionally complex moment. “Cuba, our beloved Cuba, is experiencing the most difficult hours of this century, and we have the historic responsibility to save it,” he stated.
In his address, he insisted on the need for profound changes, invoking the concept of Revolution attributed to Fidel Castro, noting that “it is time to change everything that needs to be changed.”
The President emphasized that the situation is not solely due to internal factors, but also to a global context marked by conflicts, a crisis of multilateralism, and the use of the financial system as a “political weapon.”
Crisis, Blockade, and Effects on the National Economy
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic, during his address at the Third Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of People’s Power in its 10th Legislature. Photo: Abel Padrón Padilla/Cubadebate.
The Head of State described the impact of the intensified U.S. blockade against the island as a “barbaric, undeserved, and unsustainable punishment,” aggravated, he said, by financial persecution.
According to him, this situation directly affects the economy and daily life: “every drop of fuel, every medicine, every food product, every part, and every piece of technology that the country needs.”
He added that this scenario requires acting differently: “We cannot think and act as in normal times because these are not normal times,” he stated.
Approval of Transformations and the Role of the Assembly
Díaz-Canel defended the process of discussion and approval of the economic and social transformations, assuring that these are not improvised decisions.
“Everything approved today arrived here with the backing of successive analyses, debates, and government programs,” he explained, while emphasizing that the transformations “do not contravene the Constitution.”
He also highlighted the role of Parliament as an expression of the people: an Assembly made up of workers, farmers, scientists, intellectuals, artists, athletes, and students.
Main Pillars of the Economic and Social Transformations
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic, during his address at the Third Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of People’s Power in its 10th Legislature. Photo: Abel Padrón Padilla/Cubadebate.
The president summarized several of the central objectives of the approved measures:
Social Protection and Equity: He affirmed that actions will be implemented “to prevent the increase of inequalities” and guarantee care for people in vulnerable situations.
Food and Land Use: He described food as a matter of national security and called for addressing idle land: “Every piece of land that is currently covered in marabou weed will have to be put to work or given to whoever is willing to cultivate it.”
Energy Recovery: He explained that the recovery of energy capacity will be boosted through the use of renewable energies, especially solar. He also mentioned the elimination of taxes and the facilitation of imports of technologies associated with these solutions.
Fuel Regulation: The sale of fuel was authorized under state management, with state regulation and transparent profit margins.
“Those who invest and work diligently will have security and stability”
Banking System and State-Owned Enterprises: The President defended the modernization of the financial system, making it “more agile, digital, and accessible to the people.”
He reaffirmed that the socialist state-owned enterprise will continue to be the pillar of the economy, but with greater autonomy and professional management.
“To anyone who wants to build with Cuba… here is your home and the door is open.”
“Join us, but hold us accountable.”
The president warned about youth emigration and called for creating opportunities within the country. “We cannot normalize the high emigration of young people,” he cautioned.
He defended the development of legal spaces for all lawful activity that contributes to the economy.
Díaz-Canel asked for trust, but also citizen oversight:
“Trust us, but demand accountability. Join us but hold us accountable.”
He reiterated that the country faces an economic, media, and psychological war, and warned about campaigns aimed at “destroying national unity.”
Message to the United States and the International Community
In his closing remarks, the President addressed the U.S. government and the international community.
“Cuba sovereignly designs and proposes the changes it needs,” he stated, while reiterating the country’s willingness to engage in dialogue, but without relinquishing its sovereignty.
Addressing Washington directly, he said: “Without hatred, but without fear: if you truly want to help the Cuban people, let them live.”
“Cuba changes to rise again.”
In closing his speech, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed his confidence in the country’s capabilities: “Cuba is not doomed. We have the people, the talent, and the dignity to move forward.”
He called for not limiting oneself to resistance, but rather to active transformation. “We are not calling on this nation merely to resist, but to create, produce, transform, and prosper,” he said.
The president concluded with a call for unity and the continuity of the Cuban social project: “Cuba is changing to rise up, Cuba is changing to live better, Cuba is changing to remain free. Long live the heroic Cuban people!”
IMAGE CREDIT: Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic, during his address at the third Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of People’s Power in its 10th Legislature. Photo: Abel Padrón Padilla/Cubadebate.
[ SOURCE: CUBA DEBATE ]
