While Cuba plunges into misery, Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of communist dictator Díaz Canel, lives in luxury in Madrid: yet another case of communist nepotism and cynicism.
Joana Campos
As Cuba sinks into one of the worst economic and social crises in its history—marked by prolonged blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, and a suffocating poverty—the stepson of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz‑Canel, Manuel Anido Cuesta, enjoys a privileged life in Madrid.
Anido Cuesta is enrolled in an expensive executive program at the prestigious IE University Business School, one of Spain’s most exclusive private institutions, with annual tuition exceeding €12,300, not including the high cost of living in the Spanish capital.
This scandal not only reveals the nepotism of the Cuban regime, but also the disconnect of its elite from the suffering of ordinary citizens, in a country where the average salary barely reaches $15 a month.
Manuel Anido Cuesta, the son of Lis Cuesta, Díaz‑Canel’s wife, holds no official position in the Cuban government. Nevertheless, his title as “presidential advisor” places him within the inner circle of power.
A 2019 law graduate from the University of Havana, Anido has accompanied his stepfather on international tours to countries like Russia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, North Korea, and the Vatican.
During a visit to Pope Francis, Díaz‑Canel introduced him with an ironic remark as “the family’s opponent,” a gesture that contrasts sharply with his obvious integration into the regime’s inner circle.
Anido’s lifestyle in Madrid, however, has sparked outrage. Estimates show that the monthly cost for an international student in the capital exceeds €2,000—a figure out of reach for the vast majority of Cubans.
In a country where extreme poverty affects millions and basic services like electricity and water are luxuries, Anido Cuesta’s opulence—highlighted by photos of him carrying a Montblanc portfolio worth €1,410 in Iran—is seen as a direct affront.
Beyond his elite studies, Anido’s personal life draws attention too: he is romantically linked to Cuban‑Spanish actress Ana de Armas, a Hollywood star known for films like Blonde.
The couple was photographed in Madrid in November 2024 strolling the Golden Mile and dining at the upscale restaurant Numa Pompilio. More recently, they were spotted enjoying luxurious vacations in Gstaad, Switzerland, at the Le Grand Chalet hotel, where nightly rates range from €500 to €800.
Their relationship has triggered fierce criticism, especially among the Cuban exile community, which accuses de Armas of whitewashing the Cuban regime’s image by associating with someone tied to its inner circle.
In contrast to Anido’s luxury lifestyle, Cuban college students face starkly different realities. In May 2025, students from several universities—such as the Central «Marta Abreu» of Las Villas—staged a strike to protest ETECSA’s massive internet tariff hikes.
The new prices, requiring payments in dollars for data plans, are unattainable for most; 15 GB packages paid in Cuban pesos cost 11,760 CUP, many times the monthly wage of a public sector employee.
Rather than addressing these demands, the regime responded with evasions and repression, promoting officials like the Interior Minister to full army general—a sign of increasing authoritarianism.
The question remains: who is financing Anido’s life in Madrid? Is the money of a hungry nation paying for his tuition and travels? The Cuban regime’s lack of transparency and long record of nepotism suggest a troubling answer.
In a country where political prisoners fill jails and students protest over unaffordable internet, Anido Cuesta’s life in Madrid is a stark reminder that Cuban socialism is merely a facade used to privilege a select few.
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