Marcelo Patrick Ebrard Ramos lived in the Mexican embassy in the United Kingdom between 2021 and 2022 while pursuing postgraduate studies. This stay, confirmed by the environment of the current Secretary of Economy, has generated controversy due to the use of official resources and spaces for personal purposes.
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Profile of Marcelo Patrick Ebrard Ramos and his academic stay
Marcelo Patrick is the youngest son from the first marriage between Marcelo Ebrard and Francesca Ramos. With an academic career oriented to the health and medicine sector, the young man moved to the British capital to complete a master’s degree. During this period, his father held the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Claudio Ochoa Huerta’s journalistic investigation documents that Ebrard Ramos’ stay in the official property lasted approximately six months, spanning from October 2021 to April 2022.
Belgrave Square Residence Features
The Mexican embassy is located in one of the most expensive areas of London, where the real estate market reaches restrictive figures. The use of the facilities implied specific benefits for the resident:
- Elite Location: The property is located in Belgrave Square, a highly exclusive area.
- Room amenities: Large spaces on the second level with decorative fireplaces, heating and complete furniture.
- Domestic services included: Access to professional cleaning, laundry and ironing services.
- Custom feeding: Preparation of menus by a cook assigned to the residence.
In market terms, the rent for a room with these characteristics in this area ranges between 3,200 and 4,600 pounds sterling per month. This figure is equivalent to a range of between 80,000 and 115,000 Mexican pesos per month, a cost that was omitted during the young man’s stay.
Diplomatic intervention and the Hues of Crisis project
The stay was not limited to accommodation. Fernando Gutiérrez Champion, a close collaborator of Ambassador Josefa González Blanco, is identified as facilitating activities for the son of the then chancellor. Under his management in the Culture area, the organization of the artistic exhibition titled Hues of Crisis (Nuances of the crisis). This exhibition, focused on mental health during the pandemic, used the embassy staff and facilities for the reception and exhibition of the works.
The end of the accommodation came after an internal conflict. According to reports, Marcelo Patrick’s mother requested the dismissal of the residence’s cook, a request that was not granted by Ambassador González Blanco, leading to the young man’s departure from the property.
Official positions regarding the use of state property
Marcelo Ebrard, through his communication team, admitted the veracity of the accommodation. The official version maintains that it was a spontaneous invitation from Josefa González Blanco given Ebrard Ramos’ difficulties in finding a suitable income in London. On the other hand, the then ambassador has declined to delve into details, attributing the questions to retaliation for corruption complaints that she has previously filed.
History of private guests at the embassy
The case of Ebrard Ramos does not appear as an isolated event within the management of the official residence. Records indicate that Ashen Page, son of Jimmy Page (founder of Led Zeppelin), has also spent the night at the facility. This concession is based on the personal bond between Josefa González Blanco and Jimena Gómez Paracha, Ashen’s mother.
This recurring use of the diplomatic headquarters to house people outside the foreign service contravenes the nature of official properties, intended strictly for the representation of the Mexican State. To date, there is no record of audits or administrative files opened for these irregularities.
