Mexico's President Files Complaint After Being Groped
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported on Wednesday that she filed a criminal complaint against a man who groped and attempted to kiss her while she was greeting the public. The incident gained widespread attention after a video went viral.
Incident Details and Reaction
Sheinbaum, the first female president of Mexico, described the act as a crime and acknowledged that many women in Mexico have faced similar harassment. She said,
“If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the young women in our country.”
She added that the man was heavily intoxicated during the event.
Public Response and Security Concerns
The video circulated rapidly online but was removed from some accounts, highlighting the persistent insecurity women face in Mexico, a country challenged by machismo and gender-based violence. The event also raised scrutiny on the president’s security measures.
Similar to her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum travels with minimal security and remains accessible to the public, often mingling directly with crowds. Despite the assault, she expressed no intention to change this approach, stating,
“We have to be close to the people.”
Context of the Assault
The attack occurred during a brief 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 repelled his hands before a staff member intervened.
Summary
This incident underscores ongoing issues of gender-based violence in Mexico, while President Sheinbaum remains committed to maintaining close contact with citizens despite security risks.