Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a Cuban political prisoner who died after an 85-day hunger strike, has potentially hindered hopes for improved US-Cuba relations, according to political experts. His death, along with the arrest of an American contractor in Cuba, has made it more difficult for diplomatic and legislative efforts to enhance ties with the island. Marifeli Perez-Stable, a Cuba analyst at Florida International University, stated that progress in US-Cuba relations is uncertain at this time. Zapata's death has sparked outrage in Washington, with opponents of communist Cuba arguing against easing the trade embargo as a way to not appease President Raul Castro's government. Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida urged a renewed commitment to ensure a future Cuba free of the ideology that led to Zapata's death. Zapata's death poses a challenge for supporters of improved relations with Cuba who argue that increased closeness with the island is the best way to drive change. On the day of Zapata's death, legislation was introduced to lift the US travel ban to Cuba and facilitate food trade. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern emphasized the importance of being closer to the Cuban people to better support them, expressing sadness and anger over Zapata's death and criticizing the Cuban government for not preventing it. Spain is currently dealing with a similar issue as it presides over the European Union. They have pushed to remove a clause from the EU's common position on Cuba that calls for democracy and greater respect for human rights on the island. Havana believes this clause is hindering full normal relations with the EU. In response to pressure from Spanish media, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has always been a strong supporter of close ties with Cuba, expressed his sorrow over Zapata's death and called for the release of political prisoners and the respect of human rights in Cuba. He emphasized that this demand is supported by the entire international community. Perez-Stable suggested that Zapata's death would likely halt Spain's attempts to enhance EU-Cuba relations. She mentioned that Havana should not expect the EU to remove the common position. Observers of Cuba stated that the dissident's passing was a setback for the Cuban government's diplomatic endeavors to influence the United States to lift the embargo. Meanwhile, Cuba's small dissident group promised to intensify their calls for democratic reform on the island, in order to honor Zapata's memory. Five dissidents, including four currently imprisoned, declared on Friday that they had initiated hunger strikes to pressure the government into releasing political detainees. Leading dissident Oswaldo Paya expressed that the death has had a profound impact on everyone. He believes that this event marks a significant turning point and is concerned about the message it sends to the Cuban people, emphasizing that they will not resort to violence in response.