Cuba’s National Assembly has re-elected Miguel Diaz-Canel as president for another five-year term, despite the country’s ongoing economic crisis and mass exodus of citizens. Diaz-Canel, who first assumed the presidency in 2018, won re-election with votes from 459 of the 462 legislators present. However, critics argue that he has largely rejected proposed structural changes to Cuba’s political and economic system, despite the country’s need for continuous change. The government does not allow opposition challengers, and all candidates are analysed by election committees with ties to the Communist Party, which critics allege does not allow true opposition.
The COVID-19 pandemic and strong inflation have devastated the Cuban economy in recent years. Its GDP fell by 11% in 2020, and prices surged by 40% from January through October of last year. The United States has had the island under a trade embargo since the 1960s, which critics say has contributed to its already dismal economic situation. Cuba’s economic crisis has pushed many citizens beyond what they can endure, with thousands attempting desperate trips to reach the US. In 2022, about 306,612 Cubans crossed its southern border with Mexico, and some Cubans also attempt to reach the US by sea in ramshackle boats, a dangerous gamble that often costs them their lives.
However, Cubans who reach the US often face deportation and detention. In January, the administration of US President Joe Biden announced it would automatically expel Cuban asylum seekers attempting to enter the US from Mexico. Instead, the administration unveiled a new “parole” programme that would allow Cubans and citizens from three other countries to come to the US for up to two years, provided they meet certain conditions, including having a sponsor who can support them financially.
Despite the challenges facing Cuba, Diaz-Canel called upon his cabinet to “face up to obstacles and resolve inefficiencies” over the next five years. However, critics argue that the country needs continuous change, and Diaz-Canel’s presidency of continuity may not be enough to address the deep-rooted issues facing Cuba’s political and economic system.