President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico attends a press conference in Mexico City on Monday. Henry Romero/Reuters
As stated by CNN
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum filed a lawsuit against a man whom she described as “completely drunk” and whom she accused of harassment during a public speech on Tuesday, calling the incident “an assault on all women.”
According to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, the detainee was arrested overnight and is now in the Sexual Crimes Investigation Unit.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, when a man broke through the crowd and appeared intent on grabbing Sheinbaum, as captured on video.
In the footage, the man can be seen approaching her, touching her breasts, and attempting to kiss her, while bystanders in the center of the Zócalo watched. The incident ended when one of her top aides, Juan José Ramírez Mendo, intervened.
The incident sparked outrage online and renewed the discussion about harassment and women’s safety in public life.
Timeline of events and official statements
The Mexico City Police said that preliminary findings link the suspect to harassment allegations involving two other women that day. Investigations are ongoing, and questions about the suspect’s attorney are under review.
Sheinbaum, who is the first woman to hold the presidency of Mexico, announced on Wednesday that she had decided to pursue legal action against the man she described as “completely drunk”.
“I have decided to file criminal charges, because this is what I have endured as a woman – what all the women in our country go through.”
“No one has the right to invade this space.”
“I decided to file a lawsuit because this matters to me as a woman – this is an experience all the women in our country go through,” she added. “There is no one who has the right to invade our space.”
The incident also spurred a discussion about the protection of public figures. Following the murder of Urapan Mayor Carlos Manzo at the end of last year, attention to security has risen to a new level, focusing on how to balance being close to the citizens with protecting personal space.
“Since the dissolution of the Presidential Guard, no professional security system has been rebuilt. Sheinbaum relies on a small group of aides rather than professional perimeter security.”
Sheinbaum defended her approach: “We cannot stay far from people – that would mean giving up who we are. Our aides will continue to accompany us, but we must stay close to the citizens.”
The Secretariat for Women’s Issues in her administration condemned the incident and said that being close to the public “cannot be an excuse to invade someone’s personal space or to make physical contact without consent.”
“Unfortunately, no woman is immune to sexual harassment in our country.”
“Harassment is a crime – and it’s time for everyone in our country to understand that,” the ministry added, urging victims to report incidents and not to shy away from them.
The incident involving the head of state reflects a broader issue for women in public life. According to INEGI data from 2021, 70.1% of Mexican women aged 15 and older experienced violence, and 49.1% of them reported sexual violence. In response, authorities announced plans to broaden legal regulation of harassment and launch a national campaign against this phenomenon.
Ultimately, Sheinbaum emphasized the need to respect women in every sense and to take concrete steps against harassment – from legislative initiatives to active civic coordination.
The incident underscores that protecting public figures requires clear norms and thoughtful decisions to maintain the balance between openness to the public and their safety.
More interesting materials:
