Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, presenter of the Cuban government-affiliated program Con Filo, was involved in a provocative episode this Monday in Madrid, Spain, when she responded with kisses and mockery to a group of Cuban exiles who were peacefully protesting against her.
The incident took place in front of the headquarters of the Hispano-Cuban Friendship Association “Bartolomé de las Casas,” where Fernández gave a talk as part of a propaganda tour covering 15 cities in that European nation, titled “Cuban Youth in the Age of Trump.” The event was guarded by the Spanish police and communist supporters, even though the protest was completely peaceful.
Provocation in the face of dissent
A live video broadcast by Avana de la Torre on Facebook showed the moment when Fernández Álvarez approached the protesters, .
The activist Magdiel Jorge Castro posted on X that the presenter was caught "mocking the free Cubans" who confronted her with demands for justice and freedom for the island. "She came with a tour funded by 15 cities in Spain," he wrote, denouncing the use of European platforms to expand the official narrative.
Propaganda tour across Europe
The tour of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, one of the most prominent figures in the media apparatus of the communist regime, began on May 5 and will run until the 21st, sponsored by the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC), a network of organizations that have historically supported the official narrative of Castroism abroad.
The stated purpose of the tour is to promote the regime's narrative on issues such as the U.S. embargo, revolutionary youth, and the Cuban "resistance" against sanctions from Washington. However, for many Cubans in exile, this tour represents an ideological propaganda operation, financed and backed by groups aligned with Havana, which excludes any critical or dissenting voices.
A face of internal propaganda
Fernández Álvarez hosts Con Filo, a program broadcasted by Cuban Television that has been characterized by discrediting dissent, justifying repression, and spreading personal attacks against activists, independent journalists, and artists critical of the regime. The program is part of the state media apparatus that reinforces the official view of the Communist Party.
His international tour confirms a strategy of external propaganda, in which young spokespeople of the regime seek to promote the official narrative in environments where the radical left still listens to Castroism, despite documented evidence of repression, political prisoners, and widespread deterioration of human rights on the island.
While within Cuba the blackouts, repression, and poverty multiply, the regime exports its spokespersons to obscure the reality before foreign audiences. But in Madrid, at least, free Cubans were present to tell the truth.
Frequently asked questions about Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's tour and the protests in Spain
Who is Gabriela Fernández Álvarez and why is her tour in Spain controversial?
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez is the host of the Cuban pro-government program Con Filo, known for discrediting dissent and justifying repression in Cuba. Her tour of Spain, titled “Cuban Youth in the Time of Trump,” is seen by many as a propaganda strategy by the Cuban regime to spread its narrative abroad, which has sparked protests from Cuban exiles who denounce this tour as an attempt at ideological washing.
How did Gabriela Fernández Álvarez react to the protests of the Cuban exiles in Madrid?
In Madrid, Gabriela Fernández Álvarez responded to the protests by blowing kisses and mocking the demonstrators who were shouting slogans against the Cuban regime. This act was seen as a direct provocation toward the Cuban exiles who were demanding freedom and justice for the island.
What is the purpose of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's tour in Europe?
The purpose of the tour is to disseminate the official version of the Cuban regime on issues such as the U.S. embargo and Cuban resistance to sanctions. The tour is sponsored by the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC) and aims to position the regime's narrative in international settings, excluding critical voices.
What reaction did Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's tour generate among Cuban exiles and activists in Spain?
The tour has sparked protests from Cuban exiles who view these events as a propaganda act to whitewash the regime's image. Activists have denounced the use of international platforms to expand the official narrative and have called for greater visibility for critical voices and the release of political prisoners in Cuba.
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