Opponents of the Cuban Regime React to the Election of Trump

Opponents of the Cuban Regime React to the Election of Trump / Cubanet,
Ernesto Perez Chang

Cubanet, Ernesto Perez Chang, Havana, 9 November 2016 – The elections in
the United States, with the victory of the Republican Donald Trump and
the defeat of the Democrat Hillary Clinton, contrary to the predictions
of most polls, has captured the attention of the world's public opinion
in recent hours due to the decisive nature of United States policy in
the international arena.

The normalization of relations between the governments of Cuba and the
United States and the diverse opinions generated by the lengthy
diplomatic process and packages of measures aimed at easing the embargo,
implemented by current US president Barack Obama, have given rise to a
broad spectrum of opinions within Cuban civil society, such that some of
the main opposition leaders on the island have expressed their views to
CubaNet to the election results announced at dawn on Wednesday.

Antonio Rodiles, coordinator of Estado de Sats (State of Sats) and
organizer of the We All March campaign, says: "We expect consistency of
those who, within Cuba, maintained a policy against Trump and were
confident in Hillary's victory. (…) Maybe difficult times will come for
the process of normalization of relations with Cuba and the continuity
of Obama's program. We expect another direction in the dialogue and a
president who places the issue of respect for human rights and freedom
of expression as a priority, a determinant, at any negotiating table."

Jose Daniel Ferrer, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, UNPACU,
argues that the electoral decision does not mean negative effects on the
relations between the two countries: "I do not think the difference is
notable. The American people have chosen. The new president will do what
suits the citizens of the United States and, as he should, prioritize
the interests of his nation (…). The candidate the people believed to be
better has won (…). (Regarding Cuba) common sense in the process of
normalization of relations will prevail and we expect a strong hand with
the dictatorship because (Cuba) is a regime contrary to the interests
US, it is a regime that no American candidate would never agree to in
the style of Venezuela or China. (…) We expect better relations with the
new government."

The regime opponent Martha Beatriz Roque said: "It seems that the
American people have passed the bill to the Democratic Party. Many
people are concerned about the ways in which Trump has expressed himself
during his campaign, but I think that concern should be minimized
because surely the Republican Party will take control of the
situation. (…) With regards to his impact on the Cuba issue I think
there are measures taken by Obama that are irreversible. Especially
because America is a democracy, not like Cuba, which is governed by a
totalitarian. It will not be easy to give a twist to relations with the
island. However, I think this gentleman will be educated by his advisers
enough to not make the mistakes of the previous president."

Eliecer Avila, activist with the movement Somos+ (We Are More),
confessed to not having had a previous position in favor or against any
candidate, although he said about his expectations: "I didn't support
either of them one hundred percent. In Hillary Clinton I saw very
positive support for Obama's policy (toward Cuba). (…) Donald Trump has
shown some strong positions but I do not think that will change the
policy of his predecessor but, apparently, will negotiate from other
positions."

The lawyer Laritza Diversent , founder of Cubalex, believes that the
elections were a reflection of the opinion of the American people and
believes that Cuba will occupy an important place in the policy of
President-elect: "The process of normalization of relations between the
United States and Cuba is irreversible. (…) There is a responsibility to
the legacy of Obama. The United States, with its current policy, is
leading positive changes. Many challenges are imposed on the new
president. We should also consider the views of the US Congress and
other powers in that nation."

Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, believes it is too early to
make predictions about the directions Trump will take regarding policies
on Cuba: "We have to wait. I have never preferred one or the other
because there is a reality: it is not about the Cuban President but
about the President of the United States. Someday I want Cuba to be able
to elect a president in a way similar way to that in the United
States. (…) We don't know about Trump, we have to wait. There may be
changes but I do not know, I'd rather wait. "

The election of the 45th President of the United States has not only
launched numerous questions in the world's most important economic
sectors. For Cuba, undergoing a process of rapprochement with the United
States that could help find a solution to economic stagnation, for the
government, or a way for democratization, for civil society, the
policies toward the island that will be decisive in the immediate future
will be designed by Trump.

Source: Opponents of the Cuban Regime React to the Election of Trump /
Cubanet, Ernesto Perez Chang – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/opponents-of-the-cuban-regime-react-to-the-election-of-trump-cubanet-ernesto-perez-chang/