A new generation of Castros is emerging in Cuba

For decades, Cuba was governed by Fidel Castro and his brother, Raúl, who succeeded the Cuban dictator after his death in 2016 and remained in power until 2018. Now, younger Castros assert themselves as key figures on the communist island — including a rebel influencer, owner of a bar.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is putting pressure on Cuba, demanding changes and restricting oil exports to the country, but the Castro dynasty continues to rule the communist-ruled island.

A new generation of Castros is now emerging in Cuba, says AFP.

A grandson and a great-nephew are rising in the corridors of power, while another grandsonwho presents himself on Instagram as an eccentric influencer called “Vampirach”, and claims that Cubans want capitalism.

One of the Castros of this new caste is Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castrocolonel and grandson of former president Raul Castrowho recently participated in talks with North American officials.

Also Oscar Perez-Oliva Fragason of Fidel and Raul Castro’s older sister, was promoted to deputy prime minister in October, becoming one of the key figures in politics on the island.

And then there’s the unpredictable element: Sandra Castro, bar owner, aged 34, and grandson of the late leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro. With almost 160 thousand followers on Instagram, he publishes satirical videos about the blackouts in Cuba and other daily difficulties.

O influencer

Dressed as a monk or as the ‘Vampirach’ vampire‘, wearing kitten makeup or a Barcelona shirt, Sandro Castro often publishes sketches full of simplistic jokes — without worrying about showing great skills of representation.

Last week, he caused controversy when, with beer in hand, in his apartment in Havana, the President Miguel Diaz-Canel “you’re not doing a good job” and that “Most Cubans want capitalism, not communism”.

With his quirky videos and simple jokes, the grandson of the former Cuban dictator both gathers sympathy and rejectionin a country mired in a deep economic crisis and where humor on social media can be expensivesays the Spanish edition of Newsweek.

While his followers celebrate him and They even call him “the next president” on social media, commentators from Cuban state media criticized the influencer, and voices more sympathetic to the communist government ask be silenced.

The Cuban exile community, however, sees Sandro “Vampirach” Castro as the face of a privileged elite in a country where the average salary is 6680 pesos, around 12 euros per month. The influencer became known during the pandemic, when he released a video that showed him drive a luxury Mercedes-Benz.

“Every now and then it is necessary take out these little toys we have at home“, said Sandro Castro in the video — which quickly went viral, outraged the population, and would open the way to leadership of audiences on Cuban social networks

In a recent video, Sandro, wearing sunglasses, interacts with a Trump impersonatorwho tells him he wants to buy Cuba. The , actually without much fun, was published on the same day that Diaz-Canel confirmed that talks between US and Cuban officials.

Second Lillian Guerraprofessor of Cuban History at the University of Florida, Sandro Castro is part of a “well-staged and seductive” operation to convince American public opinion that the Castro regime does not pose a threat.

“The Cuban State has always been a spectacle state“, says Guerra to the AFP agency. “Half of your energy, or more, is spent create distractions and false narratives.”

Andres Pertierraa historian at the University of Wisconsin, says he does not believe that Sandro Castro was a distraction, but also considered that he “should not be taken so seriously as someone who plays a more senior role in government.”

The bodyguard

As Sandro Castro seeks to win over online audiences as the rebellious grandson of a dictator dynasty, older family members occupy more important positions.

The presence of Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, who is grandfather’s bodyguardalready front row When Diaz-Canel revealed the talks between the US and Cuba, it raised suspicions, since does not hold any official position in the government.

Raul Guilhermo is known as “Raulito” and “”, or “The Crab”, a nickname that refers to the fact that he was born with six fingers on one hand. On social media, there are those who say that Raulito is “the crab that moves forward”.

According to North American media, Raúl Castro’s grandson acted as messenger in negotiationsbetween Cuba and the USA, a sign that he will now be destined to be more than his grandfather’s bodyguard.

The advantage of not being Castro

But it is the rapid rise of Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga55 years old, who has been feeding speculation about a possible reorganization of leadership.

“Perez-Oliva seems to be a much more serious candidate of a new generation linked to the family and which probably deserves your trust, but which, at the same time, has the advantage of do not carry the nickname Castro,” says Pertierra.

Fidel’s great-nephew was named Minister of Foreign Trade in 2024 and, a year later, it would end up reaching deputy prime minister. Perez-Oliva was also elected to the National Assembly — a requirement for becoming President.

Last month, he revealed in a government plans that aim to allow Cubans residing abroad to invest on the island. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that was not enough, insisting on the need for both economic and political changes.

Kardashians de Havana

The rise of the younger Castros, in a context of tension with the USA, raises Questions about Diaz-Canel’s futurewhich in 2018.

Raul Castro remains an influential figure; Diaz-Canel himself has already admitted that “historical leader of the revolution” was guiding the talks with the United States.

The Cuban State has “different fiefdoms” and “the main fiefdom continues to be, even today, that of the Castro family”, he states Ricardo Herreroexecutive director of the Cuba Study Group, an independent think tank based in Washington.

As reported last month, Trump administration officials were seek to remove Diaz-Canel from power during conversations. But Washington would still not be pushing for any action against members of the Castro family, the newspaper added.

“I don’t believe that the Cuban government can get rid of Diaz-Canel without this becoming a somewhat humiliating processwhich would be equivalent to giving in to the USA”, says Pertierra.

“The Castros will continue to play some kind of role no cuban political system for a long, long time — even when they no longer necessarily have the surname Castro.” They are a kind of Kardashians de Havana.