Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)
New York Times: Justin Trudeau Criticized for Praising Fidel Castro as ‘Remarkable Leader’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada would like the world to know that he was rather fond of Fidel Castro. Or at least, that is the message that many people took from his unusually warm statement on the death of the Cuban dictator, whom he hailed on Saturday as “a remarkable leader.”
“Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century,” Mr. Trudeau said in the statement, which was issued while he attended a summit meeting in Madagascar. He described Mr. Castro, who ruled as a Communist autocrat for almost 50 years, as “Cuba’s longest serving President.”
“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 continued. He added that Mr. Castro was “a legendary revolutionary and orator” whose death had brought him “deep sorrow.”
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Update #1: Trudeau called Castro a ‘remarkable leader.’ Twitter imagined what he would say about Stalin. (Washington Post)
Update #2: Fidel Castro: Justin Trudeau ridiculed over praise of 'remarkable leader' (The Guardian)
WNU Editor: Canadian Prime Minister's Justin Trudeau's statement is here .... Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro.
The Trudeau family's relationship with Fidel Castro goes back a long way .... Fidel Castro even showed up at Pierre Trudeau's funeral .... so the Canadian PM's remarks do not surprise me, and I do expect Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be at Fidel Castro's funeral this coming week. Were the PM's remarks a bit "too much" .... it depends on who you talked to. One of my Quebec business partners is a fan of Castro .... and he is a deep funk right now. Everyone else .... the feelings are either neutral and/or they do not care. The Canadian press .... as expected .... a bit fawning of Castro but at least they are highlighting his repressive and brutal rule. The reaction in Russia has been interesting. Remarks from Putin were not surprising .... recognising the long relationship between the Kremlin and Cuba (and the Russian media is repeating the same story) .... but on Russian social media and forums .... brutal. Fidel Castro has no fans there .... none. As to what is my take .... a typical Latin American dictator who was in power too long .... leaving behind a legacy that will not be kind to him when the Cuban Communist party (PCC) is finally put into the dustbin of history.
