Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, face of the Cuban government program Con Filo, continues her propaganda tour in Spain amidst protests, controversies… and lies.
During a presentation in the city of Málaga, at an event organized by the Spanish union Comisiones Obreras – with socialist and communist roots – Gabriela defended her work against the numerous criticisms she has received both in Cuba and abroad.
In response to the constant accusation that Con Filo spreads misinformation and distorts Cuban reality, a challenge was issued: “It’s a program with which you may agree or disagree, as it ultimately involves opinion and political analysis, but to lie, we have never lied.”
In an effort to legitimize the editorial line of the program, which attacks dissidents, activists, and journalists critical of the regime, he insisted that the accusations have not been substantiated with evidence.
According to her, both she and her colleagues always challenge those people to inform them of any lies they have told, but so far no one has been able to prove anything.
Facebook / Arturo De Armas Lago
Although he acknowledged that he faces criticism in Cuba, Fernández stated that this does not extend beyond the virtual realm. “The toxicity that is generally seen on social media, which can become extremely violent, usually does not cross the screen in Cuba,” he noted.
Facebook / Arturo De Armas Lago
In contrast, he asserted that in Spain he has been a victim of more direct harassment: “It seems they got tired, but they were chasing me through all the cities…”.
At another point in his speech, he compared the situation in Cuba to what he is currently experiencing on European soil: “They haven’t reached the level of violence seen here,” he noted, without mentioning that similar actions by citizens in Cuba could lead to criminal consequences.
En un intento de mostrar cercanía con el público cubano, afirmó que los presentadores del programa conviven con el pueblo que los ve en la televisión y que están abiertos al diálogo directo.
“They can talk to us, and it never reaches that level of violence that has come here, of threatening, trying to intimidate,” he insisted.
Despite her attempts to showcase popularity, Gabriela Fernández’s tour of Spanish cities has not been without confrontations. Cuban exiles have tried to attend her events, but they have been denied entry.
On May 5th, in Madrid, a tense moment occurred when he stepped out to provoke with kisses and mockery towards exiles who were peacefully protesting in front of the Hispano-Cuban Friendship Association Bartolomé de las Casas, where he was delivering a talk.
“This had never happened to us before,” he said, referring to the level of confrontation experienced in the streets of Spain.
The tour of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez through 15 European cities, under the auspices of the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC), has been described by exiled activists as a campaign of ideological cleansing by the regime.
The tour aims to project a positive image of the Cuban system and defend official positions on the embargo, revolutionary youth, and resistance to U.S. sanctions, actively excluding dissenting voices.
On social media, activists like Magdiel Jorge Castro reported that Fernández was caught “mocking free Cubans.” They also highlighted the police presence and the support from local communist groups at the events.
Fernández’s emergence on the international stage seems to confirm a strategy of external propaganda by the Cuban regime, which aims to position its narrative in receptive spaces while ignoring the serious human rights violations occurring within the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gabriela Fernández Álvarez’s Tour and Its Impact
The purpose of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez’s tour in Spain is to defend the official discourse of the Cuban regime before European audiences and project a positive image of the Cuban system. The tour is supported by the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC) and aims to address issues such as the U.S. embargo and Cuba’s resistance to U.S. sanctions, while actively excluding dissenting voices.
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez has faced criticism during her tour for her role as a spokesperson for the Cuban regime and for participating in what is perceived as a propaganda campaign to whitewash the regime’s image. Cuban exiles have protested against her, accusing her of mocking free Cubans and ignoring human rights violations in Cuba. Additionally, she has been criticized for her provocative attitude towards protesters in Spain.
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez has faced controversies in Spain due to protests from Cuban exiles who accuse her of being a tool of the Cuban regime to spread propaganda. Furthermore, she has been the target of harassment from these groups, who denounce the use of European platforms to expand the official narrative, excluding critical and dissenting voices.
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez has defended her work and that of the “Con Filo” program, stating that they have never lied and that the accusations of misinformation have not been supported by evidence. She has challenged her critics to prove any lies she has told. Furthermore, she has claimed that the criticisms in Cuba do not go beyond the virtual realm, unlike what she has experienced in Spain.