IRI Survey Shows More Than 60 Percent of Cubans Want Democratic Change

Spanish Version

Washington, DC – Despite Raul Castro’s recent alterations to some socio-economic policies, more than 60 percent of Cubans are still looking for change, especially in the form of elections, free speech and multi-party politics.  This is among the findings of a unique survey (Spanish Version) recently conducted in Cuba, and released today, by IRI.

“While the new Castro regime is working hard to project an image of change, these survey results indicate that the Cuban people are unconvinced, still looking for freedom, a better quality of life, and new leaders,” said Lorne Craner, President of IRI.

According to the results of the survey, conducted on the island between March 14-April 12, 62 percent of Cubans support a change to a democratic system, while 60 percent say they would vote for someone other than Raul Castro if free elections were held today.  An overwhelming 82 percent show strong support for a transition to a free-market economy.

Other significant findings from the survey:

• More than 82 percent of Cubans do not believe things are going well in the country.  This figure has grown by almost 10 percent since IRI conducted its last survey in October 2007.
• Nearly 48 percent of Cubans think things are going badly or very badly.
• Low salaries and high cost of living remain the toughest problems facing the country, according to 43.1 percent.
• Just over 61 percent of Cubans would vote against Communist Party candidates if Cuba were to hold free and fair elections.

Cuba also restricts opinion surveys without government authorization and supervision.  For that reason, IRI utilized an original methodology for its survey.  From March 14-April 12, 2008 interviewers from other Latin American countries discreetly engaged Cubans in public areas with their questionnaires.  A total of 587 Cuban adults were asked questions ranging from perspectives on the economy to the performance of the current Castro regime.  The survey has a margin of error of +/- four percent, and a 95 percent level of confidence.  The survey was conducted in all 14 Cuban provinces.