President Claudia Sheinbaum was assaulted while greeting supporters near the presidential palace on Tuesday. The incident, involving an intoxicated man, has reignited debates about women’s safety in Mexico.
According to witnesses, a drunken man approached the president, placed his arm around her shoulder, and touched her hip and chest while attempting to kiss her neck. The president’s security team quickly intervened and pulled him away.
Initially taken aback, President Sheinbaum even posed for a photo with the man before realizing the true nature of what occurred upon reviewing video footage later.
“This person approached, completely intoxicated (...) it wasn't until I saw the videos later that I realized what had really happened,” Sheinbaum said Wednesday.
The individual was arrested and charged with harassment, a crime recognized in Mexico City and about 20 states across the country. Speaking a day after the incident, President Sheinbaum urged for sexual harassment to be classified as a crime nationwide, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by women in Mexico.
After being assaulted in public, President Sheinbaum urged for comprehensive national laws against sexual harassment, stressing the urgent need to protect women’s safety in Mexico.