Fidel Castro: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's positive remarks on late Cuban leader spark ire, humour

Updated

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose family's ties with the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro go back decades, mourned the loss of a "remarkable leader", sparking a flurry of criticism and humour at his favourable tone.

Key points: Justin Trudeau's comments on Castro are markedly more positive than most Western leaders'

He warmly recalled his late father's friendship with Castro

"Is this a real statement or parody?" Marco Rubio tweets

Castro, who died on Friday aged 90, won support for bringing schools and hospitals to the poor but also created legions of enemies for his ruthless suppression of dissent.

Mr Trudeau's comments on Castro were markedly more positive than most Western leaders', who either condemned the revolutionary leader's human rights record or tip-toed around the subject.

Instead, Mr Trudeau warmly recalled his late father's friendship with Castro and his own meeting with Castro's three sons and brother — Raul, Cuba's current President — during a visit to the island nation earlier this month.

"While a controversial figure, both Mr Castro's supporters and detractors recognised his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for 'el Comandante'," Mr Trudeau said in the statement.

He called Castro "larger than life" and "a legendary revolutionary and orator".

Castro was an honorary pall bearer at the 2000 funeral of Mr Trudeau's father, former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

In 1976, the senior Trudeau became the first NATO leader to visit Cuba since its revolution, at one point exhorting, "Viva Castro!"

"I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away," the Canadian Prime Minister said.

Mr Trudeau did not see Castro during his official visit to Cuba in November.

'It this a real statement or parody?'

His statement was met with puzzlement and derision by some Americans, including United States senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who is of Cuban descent.

"Is this a real statement or parody? Because if this is a real statement from the PM of Canada it is shameful and embarrassing," Mr Rubio tweeted.

The statement spawned the Twitter hashtag #TrudeauEulogies, which quickly began trending as people emulated Mr Trudeau's upbeat tone and lack of criticism.

"While controversial, Darth Vader achieved great heights in space construction and played a formative role in his son's life," tweeted Jason Markusoff, riffing on the Star Wars movie villain.

"We deep sadness and appreciation we honor Sauron, who sought to create a more unified world," another user tweeted.

Canada, long one of Cuba's closest Western allies, hosted secret talks between Cuba and the US, brokered by the Vatican, that led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two foes last year.

Reuters

Topics: death, communism, forms-of-government, government-and-politics, canada, cuba

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