This week I came over an article in the local press about the move of President Lacalle Pou into the official Presidents mansion of Uruguay. I like to introduce you to these information’s, because they show a rare and specified view into lifestyle and income of Uruguayan employees, which I never have seen like it in the last 10 years here in Uruguay.

President Lacalle Pou moved with his family to the Suárez and Reyes residence in the Prado area as soon as he took the reins of the country.

Residencia Presidencial de Suárez y Reyes, or simply Residencia de Suárez (Spanish for Suarez Residence), is the official residence of the president of Uruguay, so-called because it is located at the intersection of Suarez and Reyes streets, in Prado, Montevideo. To its back lies the Montevideo Botanic Garden. It was built during the first presidential term of José Batlle y Ordoñez.

  Joaquín Luis Miguel Suárez de Rondelo (born August 18, 1781 in Canelones, died December 26, 1868 in Montevideo). In December 1828, Suárez served as the first head of state of the territory that was about to be known as Uruguay two years later.

In 1907 the land lot was acquired by Adelina Lerena de Fein at auction. There, the Fein Lerena family ordered the construction of a three-storey house by the young architect Juan María Aubriot, who finished the work in 1908.

After the death of the house owner, the family decided to sell the estate, which was acquired by the German Werner Quincke. He commissioned reforms to the architect Karl Trambauer, who added its characteristic tower, as you can see in the picture above. The Quincke family sold it to the Susviela Elejalde family, who were forced to give up their rights to the Montevideo Municipality due to financial problems.

Luis Batlle, the first president who lived in Suárez, with his children Jorge, Luis and Matilde.

In 1925, the young Luis Batlle Berres and Matilde Ibáñez Tálice met while walking in front of this property. Soon after they were married, in 1947, Luis Batlle Berres was already president, and at the suggestion of his wife they chose this mansion as their official residence. They commissioned reforms to the architect Juan Scasso (who designed and built the Centenario Stadium).

 
Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou in Suárez’s house when his father was president. Luis Alberto, Pilar, and Juan José Lacalle Pou at Suárez.  What a wonderful bunch of Terrier’s they had, click on the pics to supersize.

The president Lacalle Pou himself had lived there as a teenager when his father, Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, held the office, but the gigantic mansion had been unused in recent administrations. Tabare Vazquez and José Mujica lived in their private residences.

President Tabare Vazquez resided often here, although he had his own house in Montevideo. Estancia de Anchorena, the official presidential retreat. Wonderful destination right on the edge of river Rio de la Plata, in middle of the National Parque Anchorena. It comprises about 1400 hectares, includes over 200 different species of trees and srubs from allover the world, has its own airport and is located about 30 kilometers north of Colonia del Sacramento.

It’s a common grumble that politicians‘ lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president – who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay.

Laundry is strung outside the house. The water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside. The picture down here shows the residence of the president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, whose lifestyle clearly differs sharply from that of most other world leaders.

President José Mujica’s infront of his residence.

President Mujica has shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife’s farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo. The president and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers.

This austere lifestyle – and the fact that Mujica donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to US$12.000, to charity – has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world. He kept only US$ 1.200 a month, but he was ever happy !! Just by the way the Uruguayan presidential monthly salary is the 3rd highest in all Latin American country’s.

This digital portal El Eco denounced that the costs of running the official Presidents Mansion have multiplied since the President Lacalle Pou and his family have been living there. The media outlet cites data reportedly collected by the General Accounting Office of the Nation (CGN), which shows that costs currently amount to about US$400.000 per month, which would total US$24.000.000 over the five years of the government.

      Inside the Presidents Mansion      

This information, also replicated by Caras y Caretas, states that the number of security guards there were when it was uninhabited was 20, but now there are 80. An ordinary security guard earns a monthly salary of $39.000 (US$ 880), but if armed, the figure rises to $52,500 (US$ 1185). A personal security guard is paid $66.500 (US$ 1.500) and the monthly payment for camera surveillance service is $36.000 (US$ 812).

Guarding all day long for a salary of about US$ 800 a month !

The Echo also reports that there are a large number of service personnel, at least 20. Maids are paid $27,000 (US$ 609), and a cook costs the state $55,000 (US$ 1.240) a month. A nanny earns $25,000 (US$ 564), gardeners $22,000 (US$ 496), waiters $26,000 (US$ 587), and laundry staff $25,000 (US$564).

It is also reported that hairdressers, makeup artists and others can cost between $25,000 and $38,000 (US$ 564 and 858), medical and nursing staff between $27,000 and $70,000 (US$ 609 and 1.580) each, and veterinary services $47,000 (US$ 1.061).

Is there something – above – we can learn from ?