Los Pinos, from luxury home to cultural center

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In a time when transparency and access to information were established in Mexican law, what took place in the presidential context was always reserved, with the argument that those were national security matters but now that Los Pinos is no longer the official residence, many secrets are becoming public.

Today EL UNIVERSAL reveals that for years, constructions have been built to fulfill the demands of each inhabitant of the former presidential residence , a 50,000 square meters space, but when this wasn't enough, the Chapultepec forest was used to construct more buildings .

During the presidency of Vicente Fox Quesada , it was revealed that two cabins had been built for him, his wife, and his children. Felipe Calderón Hinojosa inhabited them but Enrique Peña Nieto ordered the demolition of one of the cabins to build an office for the First Lady.

Besides the cabins, former Presidents also built other buildings. Felipe Calderón inaugurated the Centenary building and Peña Nieto built Emerald, yet it is unknown who built them, how much the construction cost , and the equipment in these buildings.

During the last 19 years, each President tore down buildings to build others, according to the taste and interests of each leader .

The government officials involved in the creation of the new Los Pinos Cultural Complex acknowledge that so far, they haven't seen all the spaces: “There are other spaces under every building, there are tiny rooms,” In regards to architecture matters, anarchy prevailed since the Presidents built without permits , without inspectors, “at the request of the President .” With Peña Nieto, a soccer field was built and it is alleged that a p rofessional flight simulator installed at the official residence.

During all these modifications made to the former presidential residence , it was common to remodel spaces, demolish buildings, acquiring new furniture , take the furniture away; all this without having to report the use of public resources.

The government department that should have been an example of transparency was rather inconspicuous in the management of public resources. The evidence of squandering and indulgences were made public once Los Pinos was opened to the public.

The current administration faces a huge challenge since it has to be different from previous governments , although it shouldn't become a complicated issue. It's enough to use public resources more efficiently and to transparent its use, an easy formula.