Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard has denied any wrongdoing regarding his son’s six-month stay at Mexico’s embassy in London, stating he sees “no abuse” in the arrangement that occurred while he served as foreign minister.
Ebrard’s remarks, made during a press briefing, come amid renewed scrutiny over whether the use of diplomatic housing for private family purposes violated government ethics rules. The stay, which took place between October 2021 and April 2022, involved Marcelo Patrick Ebrard Ramos, the secretary’s son from his first marriage, who resided in an official room at the embassy while pursuing academic studies in the United Kingdom.
The controversy centers on allegations that the arrangement constituted nepotism and an improper use of public resources, particularly given Ebrard’s direct supervisory role over the embassy’s then-ambassador, Josefa González Blanco. Critics argue that providing housing, meals, laundry, and housekeeping services to a private individual—even if offered voluntarily—breaches the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores’ 2021 Code of Ethics, which prohibits using institutional resources for non-official purposes.
Ebrard has maintained that the stay was an “offer” made by the ambassador and not a request initiated by him or his son. He emphasized that no public funds were misused and that the accommodation was provided as a personal gesture, not an official benefit. “I do not see in this any abuse on my part,” Ebrard stated, adding that no institutional resources were used improperly.
The embassy residence, located in Belgrave Square—a prestigious area of central London—includes furnished rooms with amenities such as fireplaces, closets, and heating. According to real estate analyses cited in Mexican media, comparable private rentals in the area cost between £3,200 and £4,600 per month (approximately 80,000 to 115,000 Mexican pesos), raising questions about the imputed value of the benefit received.
Marcelo Patrick Ebrard Ramos, identified in reports as the youngest of Ebrard’s three children from his first marriage to Francesca Ramos, has pursued studies in medicine and psychology in Mexico before expressing interest in neuroscience research in London. He later became a father to twins with Ebrard’s current wife, Rosalinda Bueso.
Journalist Claudio Ochoa Huerta, whose investigative reporting first brought the stay to public attention, has criticized Ebrard’s defense as “cynical,” arguing that the structural power dynamic—where the ambassador reported directly to Ebrard—negates the possibility of a truly voluntary offer. Ochoa contends that accepting such benefits under these circumstances violates both the spirit and letter of ethical guidelines designed to prevent conflicts of interest.
The Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores’ 2021 Code of Ethics, which Ebrard endorsed during his tenure as secretary, explicitly states that officials must not “use institutional goods, property, human, material, or financial resources for purposes other than those assigned.” The provision has become a focal point in debates over whether the embassy stay constituted a breach, regardless of intent.
As of now, no formal investigation has been launched by Mexican oversight bodies such as the Auditoría Superior de la Federación or the Secretaría de la Función Pública. Ebrard continues to serve in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s cabinet as secretary of economy, a position he assumed after leaving the foreign ministry in 2023.
The episode adds to ongoing discussions about transparency and accountability in the use of diplomatic privileges, particularly when family members of high-ranking officials benefit from state-provided accommodations abroad. Similar cases in other countries have prompted reforms to clarify boundaries between personal courtesy and official privilege.
For updates on ethical conduct in Mexican public office, readers may consult official publications from the Secretaría de la Función Pública or monitoring reports from civil society organizations such as Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad.
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