Mexican President Harassed During Public Greeting

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum sued a man following the sexual harassment he experienced near the National Palace.

In a press conference on Wednesday (5/11), Sheinbaum revealed that the incident occurred on Tuesday (4/11) when he was walking to a meeting at the Ministry of Education from his residence at the National Palace.

“We decided to walk. Many people greeted us along the way and there were no problems until finally a drunk man came and I experienced this harassment,” Sheinbaum was quoted as saying CNN Mexico.

In the video obtained by CNN Mexico, Sheinbaum appears to be surrounded by local residents who greet him. A man then came from behind and immediately embraced and touched the President’s breasts. The man also tried to kiss Sheinbaum in front of gathered residents.

As a result of this incident, the man is now in custody. Sheinbaum filed a lawsuit with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office to process the law in question.

“If I don’t file a lawsuit, what will happen to all the women of Mexico? If they dare do this to the president, what will happen to all the young women in this country?” Sheinbaum emphasized.

After harassing Sheinbaum, the man also reportedly harassed another woman on the same street. Therefore, he was immediately arrested and is now in the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office for a Sexual Offenses case.

Sexual harassment is a crime contained in Article 179 of the Mexico City Penal Code.

Under these regulations, anyone who commits sexual acts that are unwanted by the victim and causes psychological or emotional harm or suffering that violates their dignity can be subject to a prison sentence of one to three years.

Sheinbaum on the same occasion confirmed that she would launch a campaign regarding “all Mexican women.”

“Women must be respected in all things. And harassment is a crime,” he concluded.

(blq/dna)