Hard Blow To The Opponents Of Obama’s Policy Toward Cuba

Hard Blow To The Opponents Of Obama's Policy Toward Cuba / 14ymedio,
Pedro Campos
Posted on March 16, 2016

14ymedio, Pedro Campos, Havana, 16 March 2016 – In the Republican
primary this Tuesday in Florida, candidate Donald Trump, who has been in
favor of continuing Obama's policy toward Cuba, defeated Cuban-American
Marco Rubio by a margin of more than 20%, in the bastion of Cuban exile
voters.

This adverse result, achieved in his home state and the headquarters of
the Cuban opposition, led Senator Rubio to the decision to end his
campaign to become the candidate of the Republican Party and should
serve him to reevaluate any future political strategy.

A more extensive reading of the fact should lead American politicians of
Cuban origin to understand that among the hundreds of thousands of
nationals from the Island living in Florida, the policy Rubio defended,
of pressure and an embargo on Cuba, can no longer count on majority
support, as has been repeatedly pointed out by pollsters and political
analysts.

Rubio had sustained his campaign in Florida opposing Obama's policy to
exchange the embargo and the pressure for rapprochement and
cooperation. A part of the most radical opposition in Cuba trusted in
his victory, and that once he was president of the United States he
would reverse the policy of his predecessor and return to the embargo
and pressure.

It is also a hard blow to internal opposition grouped who believed Rubio
would win, supported him in his efforts and did and are doing everything
possible to demonstrate the unworkability of Obama's policy. They oppose
his upcoming visit to Havana and with their actions have challenged the
new turn in United States policy.

Rubio's defeat in Florida is a sign that Cuban exiles have increased
their support for the new policy of the United States government towards
Cuba, which should contribute to a readjustment of the strategies of the
most radical groups among the exile and the internal opposition and,
presumably, in the position of the United States Congress towards the
embargo in the coming months.

The more moderate part of the internal opposition, which for some time
has assumed a different approach to that advocated by the most radical
groups in Miami, is now in a better condition to advance their position
in favor of dialog with Havana.

Moreover, candidates with a greater number of supports, both the
Democratic and Republican Parties, favor a continuation of the new
policy towards Cuba, so it becomes increasingly likely that whatever the
results in the presidential elections in the US, the current trend would
continue.

These considerations must help the Cuban government feel calmer about
the future of its relations with the US, while the internal opposition
on the island assimilates that this new relaxed atmosphere here to
stay. These perspectives provide opportunities for both the government
and the opposition to consider inclusive agendas that contribute to
improved welfare of the Cuban people.

Some may point out that the battle for the Republican nomination is not
over and that another Cuban American, Ted Cruz, who also opposes Obama's
policy, is still in the running. This is true, but in the unlikely event
that Cruz beats Trump he would have to adapt his speech to the
viewpoints that have marked the results in the primaries.

Source: Hard Blow To The Opponents Of Obama's Policy Toward Cuba /
14ymedio, Pedro Campos | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/hard-blow-to-the-opponents-of-obamas-policy-toward-cuba-14ymedio-pedro-campos/