With Miguel Diaz-Canel taking over from Raul Castro as the leader of the communist regime in Cuba, members of the Florida congressional delegation insisted this week that the change of leadership is meaningless.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, insisted that the Castro regime remains in place despite the new leader.
“The sham ‘elections’ in Cuba were nothing more than a predetermined charade by the Castro regime,” Rubio said on Wednesday. “With Raul Castro stepping down today, and his appointed crony Miguel Díaz-Canel taking his place, Cuba will continue to be an island imprisoned under the rule of an oppressive single-party political system. The Cuban dictatorship portrays this election as a step towards change, yet we all know that Díaz-Canel and the regime will remain an enemy of democracy, human rights and the impartial rule of law. If Castro truly wanted democratic change for Cuba, he would allow the Cuban people to determine their fate through free, fair, and multi-party elections.”
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the first woman to ever lead the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and currently the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, also tore into the communist regime.
“Those who know the reality of Communist Cuba know that this so-called transfer of power from one tyrant to another is no watershed moment,” Ros-Lehtinen said on Tuesday. “It is more smoke and mirrors from the dictatorship. Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic does not mean that the Cuban people are any closer to freedom than they were yesterday. The balance of power will remain in the hands of the communist dictatorship.
“Let us not be fooled,” she added. “Raul Castro will still be calling the shots. Daily oppression of the Ladies in White and all pro-democracy advocates will continue; the regime will continue to harbor terrorists and fugitives from U.S. justice; and Cuba will continue to threaten U.S. national security interests as it continues to expand its collaboration with the likes of Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and other pariah states U.S. law is clear – this does not meet the requirements of a transition government in Cuba.
“The administration should not recognize this murderous regime until the basic requirements of Helms-Burton are met: all political prisoners must be released; free, fair and transparent elections monitored by international observers must take place; and the Cuban people’s fundamental human rights are being respected," Ros-Lehtinen continued. “Until then, I will continue to support the Cuban people in their fight for freedom and democracy and will seek to hold the Castro regime – regardless of who is the ceremonial figurehead – accountable for its atrocious human rights abuses.”
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, the top Democrat on the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee who also sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the Castro regime continued its efforts to undermine democratic reforms.
“Unfortunately, today’s transition of power did not give the Cuban people the chance to vote in a free and fair election for their new leader,” Deutch said. “The incoming leadership must seize this opportunity for significant and desperately-needed reform in Cuba to guarantee basic human rights for every Cuban and put the country on a path toward democracy.”
Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., talked to Jackie Nespral from NBC 6 on the issue.
“I want to talk about something that is happening a little closer to home, and of course, I am talking about Cuba because there will be a transfer of power very soon,” Nespral said. “Now, Raul Castro is stepping down with a hand-picked person that is going to lead the party and the country as well. Do you see this as an opportunity, perhaps, for change – more change – coming out of Cuba?”
“Well, this is very likely just a cosmetic change,” Curbelo replied. “I don’t anticipate any fundamental reforms in Cuba, but sure any time that a dictator is in some way relinquishing power there could be an opportunity. Not that the Cuban government is looking for any opportunities, but anytime someone who has been in power for a very long time – in this case, Raul Castro, together with his late brother the dictator Fidel Castro, he is moving on. A new generation is coming into power. I don’t have high hopes for these people. I think their goal is the same as what has been the Castro’s goal for about sixty years now, which is to oppress the Cuban people and to do everything they can to maintain power.
“But what we do need is for the United States and the rest of the world to stand in solidarity with the Cuban people. And during this important time in Cuba – because without question, this is a significant change that someone with the name of Castro… will not be the head of government – the Cuban people need the solidarity of the rest of the world,” Curbelo continued. “And the way so many countries are stepping up and saying what is happening in Venezuela is unacceptable, they also have to recognize that what is happening in Cuba is unacceptable because it is, quite frankly, one in the same. I am hopeful, Jackie, that we can get American diplomats back in Cuba as quickly as possible to help those opposition leaders – those courageous dissidents – who are doing everything they can to create that change in Cuba. American diplomats have, for many years, been the closest allies and friends – sometimes the only friends – that these brave men and women have. So, I hope that as soon as possible, we can get them back in there to do their important work.”
Nespral turned to CIA Director Mike Pompeo who is currently before the Senate as President Donald Trump’s nominee at State.
“In the hearings in Washington D.C., Mike Pompeo was asked specifically about Cuba – if he would continue the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba, and if he would like more trade to be going on between both countries, and he said that is something he would definitely look into,” Nespral said.
“Well, look the focus of American foreign policy has to be to support the Cuban people and specifically the dissidents that are standing up and demanding change in that country,” Curbelo said. “Relations with Cuba are only good when they help the Cuban people if they help to strengthen the dictatorship – to solidify the dictatorship – then they are obviously counterproductive. So, what I would ask the administration is to continue promoting a policy in Cuba that advances U.S. interests, and, obviously, that stands in solidarity with the Cuban people.”
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., offered a history lesson on Wednesday when he talked about the new leader.
“Today, the Cuban regime has named a new puppet,” Diaz-Balart said. “Just like Fidel Castro named Osvaldo Dorticós as ‘president’ until 1976, Raul Castro has now named Miguel Díaz Canel as the new ‘president of the Council of Ministers and State.’ Raul Castro remains head of the sole ‘legal’ party and the armed forces, his son-in-law remains head of the economy, and his son remains a top official in the feared Ministry of the Interior. Today’s designation of a new Dorticós is a nothingburger. The important matter is that the Cuban people will be free, and I will continue to stand with them.”
