- President Claudia Sheinbaum will press charges after being groped during a public appearance in Mexico City
- The suspect approached from behind, attempted to kiss her, and has been arrested
- Sheinbaum said filing a complaint is important to protect all women in Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that she will press charges against a man who groped her during a public appearance.
Footage from Tuesday shows Sheinbaum speaking to supporters near the National Palace in Mexico City when a man approached her from behind, attempted to kiss her on the neck, and touched her inappropriately. Sheinbaum quickly moved away, and her security team intervened. The suspect has since been arrested.
“If I don’t file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If this can happen to the president, what will happen to all women in our country?” Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday.
She added that this behavior is not unique to her position, recounting previous experiences of harassment as a student and before becoming president. She noted that the suspect had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd, reinforcing her decision to take legal action.
“A line must be drawn,” she emphasized.
Women’s rights groups and commentators have cited the incident as a reflection of entrenched machismo in Mexican society, where even the president is not immune to harassment. The country also struggles with high rates of gender-based violence, with an estimated 98% of femicides going unpunished. While Sheinbaum pledged to tackle such issues during her campaign, progress in reducing violent crimes against women has been limited.
The groping incident also highlights concerns over presidential security, as Sheinbaum has continued the approach of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in maintaining close contact with supporters during public events. She confirmed that she does not plan to change this policy despite the attack.
The incident occurred just days after the murder of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán, during Day of the Dead celebrations. Manzo had sought federal support from Sheinbaum in combating drug cartel violence. In the lead-up to last year’s general election, around 35 political candidates were killed, marking one of Mexico’s bloodiest campaigns in modern history.
Since taking office, Sheinbaum has made progress in improving Mexico’s security situation, particularly targeting fentanyl trafficking, a critical issue in her cooperation with the United States.
