Miguel Diaz-Canel, president of Cuba, is elected to a second term

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was given a second five year term by the country’s National Assembly on Wednesday, despite the severe economic conditions currently faced by the communist-run island. He replaced Raul Castro as president in 2013 and First Secretary of the Cuban communist party in 2018. Since taking office, Diaz-Canel has faced a succession of calamities that have pushed Cuba even nearer to the brink of economic collapse. Following the Obama administration’s policy of rapprochement with Cuba, former President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course, implementing some of the toughest economic sanctions in decades. On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans, angry over blackouts, lack of personal freedoms and worsening living conditions, took to the streets in the largest anti-government protests since the Cuban revolution.

Diaz-Canel appeared on state-run TV and gave supporters what he called “the order to combat,” saying, “the streets belong to the revolutionaries.” The Biden administration responded with additional economic sanctions and has called on Diaz-Canel to release the prisoners. Carlos Alzuga