Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has vowed to press charges against a man who publicly harassed her, framing her personal experience as a pivotal stand against the country’s deep-seated culture of machismo and an urgent call for greater protection for all women.
The incident occurred on Tuesday as Sheinbaum engaged with supporters near the Presidential Palace in Mexico City. A widely shared mobile phone video depicts a man approaching her from behind, attempting to kiss her neck, and placing his hand on her body before she quickly recoiled and her team intervened.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum elaborated on her decision to pursue legal action. “If I don’t file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women?” she asked. “If they do this to the President, what will happen to all women in our country?”
She emphasized that her decision was not just about her personal experience but about the collective struggle. “I decided to sue because this is what I experienced as a woman, but it is what we as women experience in our country.” She added that she had faced similar incidents before becoming president, including during her student years.
Sheinbaum also stated her intention to press charges was reinforced by allegations that the suspect had harassed other women in the crowd, asserting that “a line must be drawn.”
Women’s rights organizations and feminist critics have highlighted the incident as a stark illustration of Mexico’s pervasive “machismo” culture. They argue that this ingrained sexism leads men to believe they have the right to harass, even a president, if she is a woman.
The country grapples with a severe issue of femicide, with an estimated 98% of gender-based murder cases resulting in no conviction. While Sheinbaum pledged to tackle this during her campaign, her administration has yet to show significant improvements in combating these violent crimes.
The harassment incident also reignites debate over presidential security and the general safety of politicians. Sheinbaum maintains her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s policy of close, regular interaction with constituents, a practice that sometimes raises security concerns for her staff. Despite these risks, she has affirmed she will not alter her approach to engaging with the public.
This event comes just days after the murder of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, a region plagued by high violence. Manzo had previously sought increased federal assistance from Sheinbaum to combat drug cartels.
Despite these challenges, President Sheinbaum has made some strides in addressing Mexico’s dire security situation. Notably, her administration has focused on cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, an issue of significant importance to international allies like the United States.