President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced she will press charges against a man who groped her during a public appearance, calling the act an assault not just against her but against all women in Mexico.
Footage shared on social media shows Sheinbaum greeting supporters near the National Palace on Tuesday when a man approached from behind, attempted to kiss her neck, and touched her inappropriately. She quickly stepped away, appearing visibly shaken, as her security team intervened. The man was immediately arrested.
At a Wednesday news conference, Sheinbaum said she chose to file a formal complaint to set an example.
“If I don’t file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women?” she said. “If they can do this to the president, what happens to the rest of us?”
The president added that she learned the suspect had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd and stressed the need to draw “a line” against such behavior.
“This is something I’ve experienced as a woman, as many women in our country have experienced. I have faced it before as a student, as a citizen, and now as president,” she said.
Women’s rights groups condemned the incident, saying it reflects the deeply ingrained machismo culture in Mexico, where men often act with impunity toward women. Activists pointed to the country’s high rates of gender-based violence, with an estimated 98% of femicides going unpunished.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, has pledged to tackle gender violence since taking office but has faced criticism from advocacy groups for limited progress so far.
The assault also reignited debate over presidential security, as Sheinbaum has maintained her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s open-access style regularly mingling with supporters during public events despite potential risks.
“I will continue interacting with the people,” she said, confirming she does not plan to alter her public appearances.
The incident occurred just days after the murder of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán, during local Day of the Dead festivities. Manzo had publicly urged Sheinbaum to provide more federal support in combating drug cartels.
Mexico continues to face widespread violence against politicians; around 35 candidates were killed in the 2024 general election, making it the deadliest campaign in modern Mexican history.
Since assuming office, Sheinbaum has pledged to improve public safety and strengthen Mexico’s fight against fentanyl trafficking, a key issue in relations with US President Donald Trump.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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