Mexico's President Files Complaint After Being Groped in Public
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she filed a criminal complaint against a man who groped and tried to kiss her while she was greeting the public. The incident was captured on video and went viral the day before.
Sheinbaum, the first female president of Mexico, described the act as a crime and noted that, like many women in Mexico, she has faced similar experiences before.
"If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the young women in our country," Sheinbaum said, adding that the man was heavily intoxicated.
The video circulated widely on the internet but was later removed from some accounts. This event highlighted the dangers women face in Mexico, a country grappling with machismo culture and gender-based violence. The incident also raised concerns regarding the president's security, as Sheinbaum, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, travels with minimal protection and engages closely with the public.
Despite the attack, she affirmed that she intends to continue this approach, stating,
"we have to be close to the people."
The assault occurred during a short walk from Mexico's National Palace to the Ministry of Education. The video shows a middle-aged man putting his arm around Sheinbaum, touching her chest, and trying to kiss her. She quickly moves his hands away before a staff member intervenes.
Author's summary: President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned a public groping incident against her, underlining ongoing risks women face in Mexico and affirming her commitment to staying accessible despite security concerns.