Trudeau defends comments after Castro’s death at la Francophonie summit
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Justin Trudeau wanted to deliver a strong message on human rights during his first trip to Africa as prime minister, and while he certainly made a big splash on that issue, it was not for the reasons he had originally intended.
As the prime minister called out world leaders, including many in French-speaking Africa, to get better at protecting the rights of women and girls and the LGBTQ community, he came under harsh criticism at home for issuing a statement praising the legacy of former Cuban president Fidel Castro.
“He certainly was a polarizing figure and there certainly were significant concerns around human rights,” Trudeau said Sunday in Antananarivo, Madagascar, where he was leading the Canadian delegation to the summit of la Francophonie.
“That’s something that I’m open about and highlighted, but on the passing of his death I expressed a statement that highlighted the deep connection between the people of Canada and the people of Cuba,” Trudeau said at a news conference.