Image via the PCC
By Xenia Balón de la Cuesta, Communist Party of Cuba, translated from the Spanish
This November 25, 2024, marks the eighth anniversary of the death of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, a leader who left an indelible mark on the history of Cuba and the world.
For many Cubans, Fidel represents the struggle for sovereignty, dignity and social justice. His figure stands as a symbol of resistance to imperialism and of an ideal of equality that, despite the difficulties, continues to inspire new generations.
The Revolution led by him radically transformed all sectors of Cuban society, from education and health to culture and the economy, as well as his emphasis on ensuring that every change should be under the watch of the Party and above all of the people.
To this governing organization he devoted himself and left a deep legacy on the importance of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in the construction and maintenance of the Revolution. Throughout his life, he repeatedly emphasized the fundamental role played by the Party, not only as a political organization, but as the vital force that guaranteed the continuity and integrity of the revolutionary process.
In an emotional speech at the pioneer camp in Lenin Park on July 6, 1974, Fidel addressed young people, urging them to keep alive the hope of belonging to the Communist Party. "The Revolution is not over. The Revolution is underway," he said, talking of how future generations are in charge of carrying out this collective work, which transcends time and people.
Fidel stressed that the Party is the basis of the security, permanence and the future of the Revolution. At an assembly of the PCC in Orientale province, on March 14, 1974, he emphasized: "The vanguard organization is fundamental. Do you know what gives security to the Revolution? The Party. Do you know what gives permanence to the Revolution? The Party. Do you know what gives the Revolution a future, what gives life to the Revolution, what gives the Revolution a future? The Party. Without the party the Revolution could not exist." This statement highlights the idea that without the Party, the Revolution could not exist, reaffirming its vital importance in the revolutionary process.
He described the Party as "the vanguard of the people, the security of the people, the guarantee of the people. And how extraordinary, how magnificent, how beautiful our luck when we do not depend on individuals, when we do not depend on groups, when individuals are so vulnerable..." highlighting the need for collective and solid leadership.
The Party, according to Fidel, is the nucleus that unites and solves the problems of the people. At the closing of the Youth Act in Las Villas, on October 22, 1964, he affirmed: "Our Party is the center of the Revolution." This vision positions the Party as the central axis in the struggle for revolutionary ideals, acting as a beacon that guides society into the future.
Fidel also stressed that entry into the Party should be based on commitment and sacrifice, not on privileges. "To be a member of it is not a source of privileges but of sacrifices and total consecration to the revolutionary cause. That is why the best sons of the working class and the people enter it, always watching over quality and not quantity," he declared during the Central Act of Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Attack on the Moncada Barracks, on July 26, 1973.
One of the aspects most highlighted by Fidel was the need for the Party to remain immune to corruption. "But the Party can never be corrupted!" he said at a meeting on December 11, 1975, emphasizing that, although any individual could succumb to corruption, the Party must be a bastion of integrity. This vision of an incorruptible Party is fundamental to the people's confidence in its leadership.
Unity and doctrine were other pillars that Fidel considered essential. In his speech at the Assembly in the province of Havana, on April 9, 1976, he declared: "We will always have to watch for unity and for doctrine." This insistence on cohesion and ideology underscores the need for a strong and united Party, capable of meeting the challenges of the time.
Fidel described the Party as "a vanguard, a selection, which we aspire to be nourished by the most advanced elements." This reflects his vision of a Party committed to work and sacrifice, always in search of the best elements of society to strengthen the Revolution.
Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro established a clear framework on the role of the Communist Party, emphasizing its importance as a guarantor of revolutionary ideals and the well-being of the Cuban people.
His legacy lives on in the structure and functioning of the Party, which continues to be a fundamental pillar in Cuban society. Fidel's vision of the Party not only defines its history, but also charts the path to the future of the Revolution.
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