Original article: Presidente de Cuba reivindica legado de Fidel frente al neoliberalismo: “El socialismo es el único camino para sacar a la humanidad de la pobreza”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized the legacy of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, asserting that «socialism is the only path to lift humanity out of poverty.»
In his keynote address inaugurating the First International Colloquium «Fidel: Legacy and Future», the president drew a parallel between the oppression experienced on the island before the revolutionary triumph and the current global crisis, stating that Fidel Castro’s ideas are more relevant than ever in the face of neoliberalism and imperialistic greed.
«He left us the certainty that dreams are achieved by defending our ideas. He instilled the conviction that internationalism is a defining trait. He taught us that socialism is the only way to uplift humanity from poverty,» he stated.
During his speech, Díaz-Canel presented statistics from Cuba in 1959 to illustrate the scale of transformation initiated by the Revolution, recalling that at that time, the largest of the Antilles was marked by injustice and dependency, where most rural children lacked teachers and infant mortality rates reflected governmental neglect. Control of land, banking, and public services was concentrated in the hands of American corporations, creating a scene of exploitation that, according to the head of State, demanded the radical transformation Fidel would lead.
In contrast to that past, he highlighted the social indicators achieved by Cuba under socialism, even amidst the suffocating economic, financial, and commercial blockade imposed by the United States. He pointed out that the Caribbean nation boasts one of the highest doctor-to-population ratios and a life expectancy that exceeds the continental average, achievements that establish the island as a global benchmark in health and education. These advancements, he noted, benefit not only Cubans but also extend to other countries through its internationalist spirit.
He emphasized that Cuba is the country that «has contributed the most to the health and education of its population and that of other nations,» as reported by Cuba Debate.
«In Fidel, we find not only a historical leader but a school of revolutionary work»
The president’s speech delved into Fidel’s legacy, highlighting his ability to combine rigorous diagnosis with revolutionary action. He recalled that the historical leader didn’t just denounce neoliberal globalization as a predatory system, but forged a method of work based on study, listening to the people, and defending principles.
«In Fidel, we find not only a historical leader but a school of revolutionary work: to study, analyze, live, and listen to the people,» he asserted, noting that he left not recipes but «a method that emerged from the fractions, not just from the minorities.»
He also reminded listeners that the revolutionary leader taught that the economy is not an autonomous sphere but the material expression of politics, asserting that ethics and personal coherence are the foundation of revolutionary credibility. «He led by example. He did not accumulate wealth, did not betray his principles, lived as he thought, and died as he lived,» he emphasized.
Addressing the international context, Díaz-Canel described a multidimensional crisis: ecological, financial, and migratory, in which the multilateral order is fractured. In this scenario, the president denounced that the United States intensifies its aggression against Cuba, escalating the blockade, maintaining arbitrary inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and funding media campaigns to destabilize the country.
Cuba Will Stand as an Example of a Revolution That Does Not Surrender
He noted that Washington has allocated millions of dollars to promote regime change, citing remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which he regarded as an «open threat from the U.S. government to the people if they do not submit to the empire’s yoke.» In response to this offensive, he affirmed that the Cuban people, under the leadership of the Communist Party, have shown firm resistance and defended their gains.
The head of State acknowledged the material difficulties affecting the daily lives of Cubans, including blackouts, fuel shortages, and deteriorating wages, but insisted that the goal is to transform this reality without renouncing principles. He clarified that the process of updating the economic model aims to stimulate production but categorically rejected any privatization of essential enterprises, assuring that the state will retain control of strategic sectors to preserve national sovereignty. «We are not here to lament shortcomings, but to change the things that hurt us,» he declared, as reported by the quoted media.
In a direct call to the new generations, Díaz-Canel asserted that «every young Cuban, every type of young person at every conference in their countries is a trench of the Revolution against ideological obscurantism and the forces opposing progress.»
He concluded his remarks by quoting Fidel to reaffirm that «Cuba will stand as an example of a Revolution that does not surrender.»
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