Mexican President Files Complaint After Assault Incident
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 happened as Sheinbaum, the first female leader of Mexico, was walking from the National Palace to the Ministry of Education.
Details of the Incident
A video of the event circulated widely online before some accounts removed it. It shows a middle-aged man putting his arm around Sheinbaum, touching her chest, and attempting to kiss her. Sheinbaum pushed his hands away before a staff member intervened.
"If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the young women in our country," Sheinbaum remarked, highlighting the persistent issue of harassment.
She described the man as very drunk and emphasized that such behavior is a crime. She added that women across Mexico experience similar harassment regularly.
Security and Public Access
Sheinbaum, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, travels with minimal security and is accessible to the general public, often mingling with crowds. Despite the assault, she stated she does not plan to change this approach, saying,
"We have to be close to the people."
Context of Gender Violence in Mexico
The viral video brought renewed attention to the insecurity women face in Mexico, a country struggling with deeply rooted machismo and gender-based violence.
Author's Summary
President Sheinbaum’s experience highlights the ongoing threat of gender-based violence in Mexico, underscoring the challenges women face even in public and prominent roles.