Do not trust populist messages, especially those from the left, which only bring destruction to countries. Fight for what you believe in, and never—never, never, never—force anyone into exile.
Stáhnout obrázek
Teresa Larrinaga de Luis was born on October 15, 1951, at the Miramar Clinic in Havana, Cuba. She remembers her childhood as a happy period, shaped by family life, school, friendships, and a calm everyday routine typical of a girl growing up among games and days at the beach. The arrival of the Cuban Revolution marked a radical turning point in her life. Due to the political situation and, in particular, the constant harassment of her father by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, her family was forced to leave the country when Teresa was between ten and eleven years old. She describes this departure as a forced, unwanted, and involuntary exile that had deeply negative consequences for her entire family. Exile caused her, while still a child, a profound sense of uprootedness and insecurity, marked by the uncertainty of not knowing whether she would ever be able to return home. Despite this, her later life in Spain allowed her to develop professionally within the framework of the European Union, where she worked for many years at the European Parliament—an experience she describes as extraordinary. Today, she views the situation in Cuba with deep sadness due to the suffering of the population caused by shortages of food, medicine, and basic resources. Nevertheless, she maintains hope in the brave individuals who continue to fight for a democratic future for the country. This interview was recorded within the framework of the project Memory of Our Cuban Neighbors, in Madrid, 2025.