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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

Raúl Castro Backs Communist Party Reforms to Tackle Cuba's Economic Crisis

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Raúl Castro fully supports the Communist Party of Cuba's proposed economic reforms to address the country's severe financial crisis.
  • Castro emphasized the importance of collective analysis and debate in generating the best ideas for transformation.
  • He also stressed that the proper and timely implementation of these reforms, with defined priorities and public participation, is as crucial as their approval.

Former Cuban President Raúl Castro has expressed his full agreement with the structural economic reforms being evaluated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). This endorsement provides significant political backing for the current government amidst a severe financial contraction.

Castro's position was conveyed during an extraordinary plenary session by Political Bureau member José Amado Ricardo Guerra. Participating via videoconference, Castro reiterated his belief that "the best ideas always emerge from collective analysis and even disagreements." This statement was disseminated through the party's official channels.

From collective analysis and even disagreements, the best ideas always emerge.

— Raúl CastroRaúl Castro's statement on the importance of debate in generating effective reforms, as relayed by José Amado Ricardo Guerra.

Ricardo Guerra noted that Castro, who officially remains the "leader at the front of the revolution" despite retiring from formal positions, specifically called on party members to enrich the debate. The goal, according to the spokesperson, is to "build the necessary consensus at this transcendental moment to undertake the proposed transformations, which are what best suits the revolution today."

As important as, or even more important than, the approval of these transformations is their adequate and timely implementation, with well-defined priorities and the conscious participation of all our people.

— Raúl CastroRaúl Castro's emphasis on the critical role of effective implementation and public involvement in the success of economic reforms.

While generally approving the reforms, Castro issued a technical warning to officials responsible for implementing public policies. He stressed that "the adequate and timely implementation of these transformations, with well-defined priorities and the conscious participation of all our people, is as important, or even more so, than their approval." He urged PCC leadership to "act with feet and ears on the ground, taking into full account the opinions and concerns of the population," referencing the social discontent caused by shortages and inflation.

The PCC's Central Committee reported a "broad and enriching debate" during the plenary session. Party officials described the economic and social proposals as a "creative, audacious, brave, and revolutionary response to the asphyxiation and economic war to which the nation is subjected." They asserted that the changes do not signify an ideological renunciation but are tools to "strengthen socialist development."

Act with feet and ears on the ground, taking very much into account the opinions and concerns of the population.

— Raúl CastroRaúl Castro's directive to PCC leadership to remain connected to the public's sentiments and needs during the reform process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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