The activist launches a new Cuban Orthodox Liberal Party from her exile in Madrid
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Madrid, April 28, 2026 / From exile in Spain, Cuban activist Amelia Calzadilla has taken a step that marks a turning point in her career: the launch of her own political project, the Cuban Orthodox Liberal Party. Known for her social media posts denouncing the crisis on the island, she is now committed to developing a national proposal for a post-dictatorship scenario.
Calzadilla herself positions this step as the result of a personal evolution marked by conflict with the establishment. In a recent social media post (with over 17,000 reactions and 2,000 comments), she writes that in 2022 she didn’t consider herself an opposition member or activist, but rather a mother dissatisfied with the state of the country. She also shared this perspective in an interview with 14ymedio, shortly after arriving in Spain, over two years ago.
However, she maintains that the harassment, threats, and smear campaigns against her ultimately pushed her toward political activism. This process, she affirms, has now culminated in the creation of this party, which she defines as a center-right liberal proposal, with an emphasis on José Martí’s ideals, justice, dignity, and the free market, although she says she will reveal the details of its platform and the people who have joined it on May 19th.
“Anyone who wants to join needs to know that we are starting from scratch and that we will have to figure out how to make it viable through our own efforts.”
She asserts that she hasn’t sought funding for the project from anyone. “There isn’t a single peso, literally,” she confesses. “Anyone who wants to join needs to know that we’re starting from scratch and that we’ll have to figure out how to make it viable through our own efforts.”
14ymedio: Why create a new political party instead of merging into an existing one? And why do it now?
Calzadilla: This wasn’t a decision against other projects, but rather a personal and political necessity. Although several initiatives exist within the opposition, they are often not visible enough, or their proposals don’t reach the population clearly. In Cuba, leaders are better known than political programs, and this leaves a significant void.
Creating a political party is, in essence, about organizing ideas for the country and putting them on the table. It doesn’t guarantee governing, but it does allow citizens to have real options to choose from in a democratic future. It also responds to the need to break with the idea that only an elite can engage in politics. Every citizen should be able to build and defend a political project.
The timing is also a factor. I sense that the system is in a phase of exhaustion and that it is necessary to prepare for the “day after.” It is not enough to confront the regime; we have to think about how the country will be rebuilt when that change occurs.
14ymedio. Your party’s name includes the term “orthodox,” which refers to Cuban political history. What does it mean in your case?
Calzadilla. The term has no connection to the Orthodox Party of the 1940s or to any specific historical figures. It is used in its original sense: returning to the basics, in this case to the principles of classical liberalism. The intention is to make it clear that this is a project centered on ideas such as individual liberty, not on past ideological currents or leftist movements. If there were any name overlap with other organizations, changing it would not be a problem. It is not a question of prominence, but of consistency.
It is a project designed for a democratic Cuba, not for the immediate transition.
14ymedio. What are the fundamental principles of your political proposal?
Calzadilla. It’s a project designed for a democratic Cuba, not for the immediate transition. It’s based on the idea of limiting the role of the State and promoting the free market, private property, and individual initiative.
It also acknowledges that the country is going through a profound crisis, so any transformation will require a complex period of reconstruction. Even so, the goal is to prevent the perpetuation of citizen dependence on the state, because that limits their freedom, even when it comes to voting.
Ultimately, it’s about striving for a society where people can thrive without economic or political constraints, and where decisions are made with genuine freedom. The program’s main points will be presented on May 19th so that anyone interested in joining can do so.
14ymedio. Which sectors of the population is your party trying to reach?
Calzadilla. It is not aimed at any specific group. The idea is for it to be a project for all Cubans, both on and off the island. The defense of individual liberty and economic development should benefit all of society, regardless of differences. It is true that many people initially gravitate toward it out of personal affinity, something common in politics, but the intention is that support be based on the content of the project, not on the person promoting it. The goal is to move from denunciation to concrete solutions.
The existence of multiple projects should not be seen as a problem, but as a natural expression of plurality.
14ymedio. How does your initiative stand in relation to other opposition actors and projects such as the Council for Democratic Transition, which you collaborate with?
Calzadilla. The existence of multiple projects should not be seen as a problem, but as a natural expression of pluralism. In a democracy, different proposals can coexist and even collaborate on common goals.
In my case, I may agree with other actors on issues such as the defense of human rights or the release of political prisoners, but that doesn’t mean all projects have to be integrated or fully compatible. This party isn’t designed for the transition, but for a later scenario.
Ultimately, it will be the citizens who decide which project represents them. The important thing is that real options exist and that the idea that Cuba’s future depends on a single structure or leadership is abandoned.
14ymedio. Does it not seem naive to start a political party without money?
Calzadilla. Yes, you’re absolutely right. But you know what happens? If I don’t believe in this, nobody else will, and what usually happens is that you start certain projects without any funding, and then the funding gradually appears. I can’t speak to current or potential members of the party without having presented them with a funding proposal. Because that’s surreal: people don’t trust you or give you money just like that; sensible people listen to your proposals, they either identify with them or they don’t, and if they do, then they make their respective contributions.
On the other hand, I have the duality and advantage of my communication skills. I want to expand my communication channels so that the money generated will allow me to have more resources available to use for the party as well, as a form of self-financing. It’s not some crazy idea of someone saying, “Well, let’s think about this and see what happens,” knowing full well that everything requires resources. Now, I’m fortunate that there are well-intentioned people around me who are willing, for the moment, not to earn money from this party and still wanting to contribute to it. That alone speaks to the need we Cubans have to participate.
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