Cuban Presenter Michel Torres Voices criticism of Revolution, Sparks Debate Amidst Ongoing Crisis
Growing social unrest in Cuba, fueled by persistent power outages and water shortages, is accompanied by increasingly vocal criticism from within the state media system. Presenter Michel Torres Corona, host of the program “Con Filo” (“with Edge”), has publicly stated that the Cuban revolution is “bogged down,” sparking debate and further highlighting the nation’s ongoing crisis.
Torres’s comments reflect a growing frustration with the current state of affairs.He has pointed to the “frustration and neglect” surrounding the revolution, and the goverment’s inability to improve living conditions for Cubans. He specifically criticized what he perceives as a double standard, where citizens are asked to make sacrifices while those in power do not share the same hardships. Torres also noted a disconnect between recent economic liberalization efforts and the state’s capacity to manage them effectively.
This criticism comes as Cubans express their discontent online following a Wednesday marked by constant electrical interruptions. Social media platforms have become a key outlet for venting frustrations with the ongoing blackouts. Just days prior, a Facebook post shared by Carlos E. Alfonso questioned the quality of life in a “totally dark city.”
Torres himself recently voiced concerns about his program,”Con Filo,” stating it is being produced “increasingly with fewer resources.” This prompted a wave of online criticism, with many users questioning the allocation of public funds to a program they deem “unnecessary,” “partial,” “propaganda,” “manipulator,” and out of touch with the realities faced by the Cuban people. Some have even called for Torres’s retirement from national television.
Recent protests in Havana, driven by the ongoing blackouts and water scarcity, demonstrate a broadening of social discontent beyond the provinces, where such demonstrations have been more common. The energy situation remains critical, with a failing electrical system plagued by a lack of maintenance, aging infrastructure, and fuel shortages.
These developments underscore the deepening crisis in Cuba and the growing willingness of individuals, even those within the state apparatus, to publicly acknowledge the challenges facing the nation.
