Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was assaulted while greeting supporters near the presidential palace in Mexico City on Tuesday. A drunken man approached her, groped her hip and chest, and tried to kiss her neck before being pulled away by security.
Sheinbaum, 63, was walking to a public event when the incident occurred. Initially, she seemed confused by the encounter, which was captured on video, and even agreed to take a photo with the man.
"This person approached, completely intoxicated (...) it wasn't until I saw the videos later that I realized what had really happened," Sheinbaum said on Wednesday.
The attacker was arrested and charged with "harassment," a crime recognized in Mexico City and about 20 other states. Following the incident, Sheinbaum urged for sexual harassment to be criminalized nationwide, highlighting the ongoing risks women face across the country.
The attack has drawn attention to Mexico's troubling record on women's safety and sparked calls for tougher laws to protect them.
Summary: After being groped during a public event, President Sheinbaum demands stronger nationwide sexual harassment laws to combat threats faced by women in Mexico.