"Dear compatriots:
Next October 3 we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the historic day on which it became known that the United Party of the Socialist Revolution adopted the name Communist Party of Cuba; its first Central Committee was presented, headed by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz; and Che's emotional Farewell Letter was made public.
With these historical motivations, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba calls for the holding of its 9th Congress in 2026, the year in which we will commemorate the centenary of the birth of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, whose legacy guides the work of the Party.
It will be an opportune scenario to continue updating the strategy of resistance and development, in the midst of a multidimensional world crisis in which fascist and extreme right-wing thinking is re-emerging, with constant threats to peace; in one of the most complex and challenging circumstances of our national history, marked also by the permanent aggressiveness of the US administration, the intensification of the genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade, and the inclusion of Cuba in the spurious list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, whose consequences are strongly manifested in the economy and in the daily life of Cubans.
In the last Congress, which we held in the context of confronting the pandemic and the struggle to safeguard lives by creating vaccines to protect the population, with our own resources and reserves, we proposed a development project, which we have not given up. Even though it has not been possible to materialize completely, the mere fact of resisting is a victory for the Cuban people.
Therefore, the 9th Congress will continue to focus its attention on the search for solutions that correspond to the economic situation we are facing, based on the actions outlined in the Government Program to correct distortions and revitalize the economy.
The following are unavoidable priorities: the increase of national productions with emphasis on food, ways to increase the earning of foreign currency, the recovery of the National Electric Energy System, the strengthening of the socialist state enterprise, the achievement of macroeconomic stability, the appropriate relationship between the state and non-state sectors, the reduction of inflation, the participation of foreign investment, efficiency and savings.
We will also continue to promote the management of science and innovation, social communication and digital transformation for the development of our society, which has opted to continue perfecting socialist and participatory democracy, on the road to conquer all possible justice.
The Communist Party of Cuba, follower of Martí, Fidel and Marx-Lenin, as the guiding political force of society, has the responsibility to guide the people, mobilize them to produce, develop, create and obtain results that achieve, in the shortest possible time, to improve the living conditions of the population, give solid support to the social advances achieved by the Revolution, overcoming our own mistakes and shortcomings, and reduce the social gap that has inevitably arisen, exacerbated by the aggressive policy of imperialism in recent years.
The strengthening of unity, the improvement of the ideological work, the political assurance of the Government Program, and the rectification of deviations and negative tendencies present in Cuban society, constitute priorities in the work of the Communist Party of Cuba, the results of which we will also evaluate at the 9th Congress.
None of the above can be achieved only with the efforts of those of us who are members of the Party. It is essential the participation of all Cubans, who in addition to contributing with their work, must exercise a daily and effective popular control in the defense of the achievements of the Revolution.
In this context, the ideological, educational and cultural battles take on an extraordinary relevance. The Congress process will be an ideal opportunity to debate on the role of the Party in the strengthening of revolutionary values, the knowledge of the patriotic history, culture and identity.
Also to discuss political, media and community communication, essential tools for the management of the Party and the Government, a trench against the campaigns of disinformation, manipulation and lies articulated by the dominant media and the subversive plans that seek to undermine socialism.
We reaffirm, with
conviction, that the defense of the homeland and national security are
strategic principles and a guarantee of the nation's existence.
The
prevention and the determined and constant confrontation of social
indiscipline, crime, corruption and illegalities demand maximum
attention from the Party. Without the frontal combat to such harmful
manifestations, it would not be possible to triumph in the economic
battle, in the preservation of the morals and values that have
characterized the Cuban people.
To successfully face the enormous
challenges of the Cuba of these times, the Party must be increasingly
solid, strengthened from the base to the higher levels of leadership, an
exemplary and combative militancy, more prepared cadres, with
analytical skills, willing to face and solve the problems.
The
permanent link with the people, also materialized in the systematic
visits of the Party leadership to the territories, constitutes a valid
method of work at all levels.
It is essential to increase the active participation of all the youth, with the protagonism of the Young Communist League, student organizations and youth movements, in the main political and socio-economic processes of the nation, as well as mass and social organizations.
With unity as an essential premise, we will dedicate the debates of the Congress to persist and advance in the socialist transformation of the country, with the certainty that we will not give up the construction of a more just and democratic society, with more rights for all.
It is worth remembering the call for unity and sincere exchange made by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz at the opening of the previous party meeting:
The unity of the vast majority of Cubans around the Party and the work and ideals of the Revolution has been our fundamental strategic weapon to successfully face all kinds of threats and aggressions. That is why this unity must be zealously guarded.
...If we have only one Party we must promote, in its functioning and in general in our society, the broadest democracy and a permanent sincere and profound exchange of opinions, not always coinciding, strengthen the link with the working masses and the population, and ensure the growing participation of the citizens in the fundamental decisions.
The 9th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, which we will hold from April 16 to 19, 2026, will belong to all the people; therefore, prior to the event we will carry out a broad consultation process on the documents to be presented, including Party members, the Young Communist League, political and administrative leadership structures, mass, social and student organizations.
It will be a worthy tribute to the history of struggle, to the ethics and spirit of independence bequeathed to us by Céspedes, Gómez, Maceo and Martí; to the anti-imperialist thinking of Baliño, Mella, Villena and Guiteras; to the generous dedication of Abel, Frank, Celia, Vilma, Camilo, Che and Almeida; to the Centennial Generation and, especially, to Fidel and Raúl, leaders of the Revolution, of the Party and of the people.
A few days before we remember the glorious action of those young people who 72 years ago took history by assault on the walls of the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks, many of whom offered their lives so that their generous blood would pave the definitive road to freedom, we reaffirm our deep conviction in the victory of our people, who have been able to face with heroism, solidarity and altruism the greatest challenges, the greatest obstacles.
Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome!"