Overview

• Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera told the National Assembly that those who appear to beg are not indigent but people “disguised” as beggars
• President Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly rebuked her remarks and affirmed that the revolution cannot leave anyone behind
• On July 16 the Political Bureau of the Communist Party and the Council of State accepted her resignation citing a lack of objectivity and sensitivity
• The episode exposed a gap between official narratives and the growing visibility of poverty as Cuba grapples with inflation, power outages and shortages
• Government officials have signaled a renewed focus on formally recognising social vulnerabilities and strengthening support for the most affected