Havana awoke this Thursday with thousands of people heading to the Plaza de la Revolución to participate in the traditional march for International Workers' Day.
The government stockpiled fuel to transport Cubans to the parade in the capital, a strategy they have maintained for decades. Cubadebate reported that more than 600,000 people participated in Havana and over 5.3 million workers across Cuba.
The event was marked by the severe economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing, characterized by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, a collapsed transportation system, and a growing public discontent that increases day by day.
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, accompanied by his wife Lis Cuesta, arrived early at the central event in Havana. They wore shirts in the colors of the national flag and displayed Palestinian scarves, a typical symbolic gesture in their public appearances.
"We are already at the Plaza. Dawn is breaking, and expectations are being confirmed: Cuba can always surpass itself," wrote Díaz-Canel on his social media, reinforcing the official narrative of resilience in the face of adversity.
The regime leader also quoted Raúl Castro with the phrase: “What kind of people do we have,” as a way to exalt participation in the parade as a supposed expression of popular support.
However, the reality on the streets and social media presented a Cuba very different from the image projected by those in power.
The event was organized amid a devastating situation. Cubans face daily struggles with the lack of basic food, the inability to cook due to the absence of electricity, and the anguish of watching their income lose value against the constant rise in product prices.
The lack of fuel has paralyzed a significant portion of public transport, yet the regime organized the forced transportation of state workers and students from early morning to ensure massive attendance at the political event.
As has happened in previous years, refusing to participate may result in reprisals at work or educational institutions.
The pressure to attend is part of a social control strategy that the government has perfected over decades. In many schools and companies, attendance lists for the march are mandatory.
On social media, the sentiment was different. While state television showcased images of waving flags and rehearsed choreographies, thousands of users were denouncing the disconnect between the official narrative and harsh everyday reality.
"The only thing that can be felt in Cuba is blackout," commented an Internet user in response to the president's post, directly referring to the widespread power outages that plague the country daily.
This year's call had already been announced by Díaz-Canel as a parade that would take place “in the midst of the most severe shortages,” which many interpreted as a tacit admission of the seriousness of the situation.
Far from acknowledging mistakes or announcing concrete solutions, the regime's approach was to insist on ideological resistance and calls to "defend socialism," even when it has practically collapsed for most Cubans.
The May Day march has traditionally been a propaganda showcase for the Cuban regime. However, in the current context, the contradiction between the rhetoric and reality has become more evident than ever.
While the leaders occupied the main podium, millions of Cubans faced another day of uncertainty, blackouts, and hunger.
For many, the real daily struggle is not in political slogans, but in how to obtain a piece of bread, a liter of oil, or a candle to light up the night.
The Plaza de la Revolución was once again filled out of obligation. The popular support that was once displayed with pride now seems as forced as the smile of someone walking under the sun without knowing what they will eat tomorrow.
Filed under: