Mexico's President Files Complaint After Public Assault
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she has 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, which went viral before being removed from some accounts.
Incident Details
The video shows a middle-aged man placing his arm around Sheinbaum, touching her chest, and attempting to kiss her. Sheinbaum moved his hands away until her staff intervened. The president was walking from Mexico's National Palace to the Ministry of Education during the encounter.
Sheinbaum’s Response and Statement
At her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum condemned the act as a crime and linked it to the broader issue of gender-based violence in Mexico. She expressed concern for the safety of women in the country:
"If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the young women in our country."
She added that the man was very drunk and highlighted that many women in Mexico face similar harassment.
Security and Public Engagement
Despite the incident, Sheinbaum insisted she would maintain her current approach to security, which, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, involves minimal protection to stay accessible to the public, including mingling with crowds. She emphasized:
"We have to be close to the people."
Context and Public Reaction
- The viral video stirred discussions about women’s safety in Mexico, a country with deep-rooted machismo and prevalent gender-based violence.
- The incident also prompted questions about the adequacy of Sheinbaum's security detail.
Sheinbaum is the first woman to lead Mexico, making this episode particularly resonant in the ongoing struggle against gender violence.
Author's summary: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned a public assault against her, filed charges, and reaffirmed her commitment to remain accessible despite security concerns around gender-based violence in Mexico.