Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was sexually assaulted during a public appearance in Mexico City, prompting widespread outrage and renewed concerns over her security.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was groped by a man while walking through the historic centre of Mexico City on Wednesday. Video footage shows the man approaching the president from the side, putting his arm around her and attempting to kiss her before allegedly grabbing her breasts from behind. Security officers quickly intervened and pushed the man away.
Authorities confirmed the suspect’s arrest, and prosecutors have charged him with sexual harassment and sexual abuse. The incident has sparked national outrage and raised questions about the president’s safety, as the man appeared to approach her with ease.
Like her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum has opted not to use the military unit traditionally assigned to protect the president.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada condemned the assault on social media, saying, “If they touch the president, they touch all of us. Today, when the president is harassed just for being a woman, we are all harassed.”
Sheinbaum, 63, is Mexico’s first female president. According to the National Statistics Institute, nearly half of all Mexican women have experienced sexual violence. Strengthening women’s rights remains one of Sheinbaum’s key priorities.
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