Raúl Castro asked Cubans to prepare for the economic crisis

The former president of Cuba, Raúl Castro, He urged Cubans to "prepare for the worst variant" of the economy, At a time when the tightening of the US embargo and aggravated balance of payments problems are holding back the country's economy.

"The situation could worsen in the coming months" warned the leader of the Communist Party in power (CCP, only legal), in his Wednesday speech at the act of promulgation of the new constitution of the country in the National Assembly.

He hoped, however, that Cuba will not experience a new special period, due to the severe financial, energy and food crisis that the country experienced in the early 1990s. after the fall of the Soviet Union and the withdrawal of subsidies that the island received from the communist bloc.

"Today is another panorama in terms of diversification of the economy, but we have to prepare for the worst variant, "said the 87-year-old former president, who badumed the power of his brother Fidel Castro in 2006 and bequeathed it in April of last year to the current president, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

To combat the so-called economic crisis looming, Castro proposed "fight and win, there is no other alternative", and specifically asked the people to redouble their efforts to increase production, especially food, adopt economy habits, optimize the use of energy and avoid fuel theft.

He also called "resist and overcome the new obstacles that the resurgence of the economic and financial headquarters puts us", in reference to the US embargo, still hardened by the government of Donald Trump, who reversed the policy of approach of his predecessor, Barack Obama.

In any case, Castro reiterated that "the old desire to overthrow the Cuban revolution by economic suffocation and scarcity had failed in the past and will fail again".

His speech comes at a time of uncertainty about the economy of the islanda country that has been trying for years to attract foreign investment and replace imports to solve its growing balance of payments problems.

However, in 2018, export earnings have been reached and a high level of indebtedness persists, while the difficulties of materialization of the investment process persist.

This is aggravated by the crisis in Venezuela, The main partner and supporter of the island, provides about half of the oil needed to cover the national demand for electricity and transport.

The recognition of foreign investment, private property and work outside the public sector is one of the most remarkable developments in the Constitution enacted today., which had already been the subject of a popular consultation process of three months and ratified last February in a referendum with 86.85% of the votes.

After proclamation of the Magna Carta will begin a legislative process in which about fifty new laws will be drafted to develop it.

In his new constitution, Cuba recognizes for the first time the role of the market and private and foreign investment in the economy, looking for reforms according to the new times, which allow it to develop.

With information from EFE and AFP