UPDATE: A man has been arrested after groping Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum in a shocking incident that has ignited widespread outrage and calls for accountability. The incident occurred near the National Palace on September 27, 2023, as the president was walking to the Education Ministry with her team.
In a viral video, the man can be seen approaching President Sheinbaum from the side, putting his arm around her and attempting to kiss her. He then tries to grab her breasts from behind before being swiftly pushed away by a security officer. President Sheinbaum maintained her composure, gently pushing his hands away while wearing a stiff smile, and was heard saying, “Don’t worry.”
President Sheinbaum, who is 63 years old and Mexico’s first female president, emphasized that this harassment is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a broader issue affecting women in the country. “No man has the right to violate that space,” she stated firmly. “I decided to press charges because this is something that I experienced as a woman but that we as women experience in our country.”
The incident raised serious questions about security protocols, as the man approached the president with apparent ease. Sheinbaum explained that she and her team had opted to walk to their destination to save time, a decision that is now under scrutiny. Unlike her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum does not utilize the military unit typically assigned to protect the president.
In response to the incident, Clara Brugada, the mayor of Mexico City, voiced strong support for Sheinbaum on social media platform X, stating, “If they touch the president, they touch all of us.” She added, “Today, when the president is harassed just for being a woman, we are all harassed.”
This alarming event has highlighted the urgency of addressing violence against women in Mexico, where nearly half of all women have reported experiencing sexual violence, according to a recent survey by a statistical institute. Strengthening women’s rights remains a central priority for President Sheinbaum and her administration.
As this story develops, attention will turn to the legal proceedings against the assailant and the potential implications for security measures surrounding the president. The public and officials alike are calling for immediate changes to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of harassment and violence against women, making it crucial for society to demand change and hold perpetrators accountable. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
