Senior Official Sunbathes with Feet on Presidential Office Window Frame... Mexico Abuzz

Resting with Legs on Window Frame During Work Hours
Public Anger Deepens over High Salary and Negligence
Government’s AI Manipulation Explanation Backfires
President Admits, "It Was an Actual Event," as Controversy Grows

A senior official working at the Presidential Palace in Mexico has sparked controversy after being caught sunbathing and using a smartphone during work hours. The situation escalated when the government initially claimed the footage was an artificial intelligence (AI)-manipulated video. However, as criticism mounted, officials admitted the event had actually occurred and dismissed the official involved.

Franco, the director general, sparked controversy as photos of him resting his legs on the window frame of the National Palace in Mexico City while sunbathing spread across social media. SNS

On April 3, Yonhap News, citing local outlets such as El Universal and MVS Noticias, reported that Florencia Melanie Franco Fernandez, Director General of Coordination at the Ministry of Finance—who was at the center of criticism for work negligence—submitted her resignation the previous day, which the government accepted. The controversy began when a video showing Director General Franco resting her legs on the window frame of the National Palace in Mexico City and sunbathing spread across social media. The location is a highly symbolic space, regarded as the center of power since the Aztec Empire, and is currently used as both the president's office and residence.

The release of the video immediately sparked debate over lax discipline among public officials. The main criticism centered on a senior official taking a personal break during work hours inside a core national facility. What further fueled the controversy was the government's initial response; authorities explained that the video had been manipulated using AI, which led to further criticism for providing a "false explanation." Ultimately, President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged during a regular press conference that "it really happened," and mentioned disciplinary measures.

Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The incident also intensified public sentiment regarding economic inequality. According to local media, Director General Franco's annual salary amounted to about 1.53 million pesos (approximately 130 million won). After taxes, this is about 100,000 pesos per month, roughly 10 times higher than the average monthly wage of ordinary Mexicans. Given that the minimum wage in Mexico remains at around 315 pesos per day in most regions, reports noted that the work negligence scandal involving a highly paid senior official further fueled public resentment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.