Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to file charges against a man who groped her during a public engagement in Mexico City, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed debate about women’s safety in the country.
A mobile phone video of the Tuesday incident shows Sheinbaum greeting supporters near the National Palace when a man suddenly moved behind her, tried to kiss her on the neck, and placed his hands on her body.
The president quickly stepped away as one of her aides intervened. The man was later arrested.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Sheinbaum said she would not ignore what had happened. “My view is, if I don’t file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country?” she said.
The president said her decision to take legal action was personal but also symbolic of what women across Mexico endure daily.
“I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman, but that we as women experience in our country,” she said. “I have experienced it before, when I wasn’t president, when I was a student.”
Sheinbaum revealed that the suspect had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd, reinforcing her decision to push for accountability. “A line must be drawn,” she declared.
The assault has reignited public discussion about the deep-rooted culture of machismo in Mexico. Feminist groups and women’s rights advocates say the incident reflects the everyday harassment women face, even those in the highest office.
Despite her strong campaign promises to address gender-based violence, activists say progress under Sheinbaum’s leadership has been slow. Femicide remains one of Mexico’s most serious challenges, with about 98% of such crimes going unpunished.
The incident also comes amid growing concern about the safety of public officials. Just days earlier, Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state, was murdered during Day of the Dead festivities.
He had previously appealed for more federal assistance in tackling drug cartels in his region.
During her campaign and presidency, Sheinbaum has chosen to maintain close interaction with citizens, mirroring the style of her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Although such openness has occasionally raised security concerns, Sheinbaum affirmed she has no plans to alter her approach.
Since taking office, she has made efforts to strengthen national security, particularly by curbing fentanyl trafficking—a major issue in relations with the United States and President Trump’s administration.
