Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she had lodged a criminal complaint against an individual who groped and attempted to kiss her while she interacted with the public. This came after a video capturing the incident went viral. Sheinbaum, the first female leader of Mexico, described the encounter as a criminal act, highlighting that similar situations have been faced by women in the country before.

During her routine morning press briefing, Sheinbaum expressed concerns about the safety of women in Mexico, emphasizing the need for better protection. The incident, involving a visibly intoxicated man, quickly spread online, shedding light on the prevalent gender-based violence and insecurity faced by women in Mexico, a society deeply entrenched in machismo culture.

The video depicted a man in his middle age approaching Sheinbaum, putting his arm around her, touching her inappropriately, and trying to kiss her. Sheinbaum managed to push him away, with one of her staff members intervening. Notably, the president’s security team was not in close proximity during the incident.

Following the incident, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed that the perpetrator had been apprehended. Sheinbaum addressed the use of images of the incident published by a Mexican newspaper, criticizing it as a form of re-victimization and calling for an apology.

Under Sheinbaum’s leadership, the Women’s Ministry issued a statement encouraging women to report instances of violence against them, while urging media outlets to refrain from sharing content that compromises women’s dignity. However, feminist advocates have previously criticized Sheinbaum for not taking sufficient action to combat violence against women, citing inadequate investigations and prosecutions of femicides.

In a separate incident on the same day, Sheinbaum met with the widow of a mayor from Michoacán state who was publicly assassinated. Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, was fatally shot during a public event, prompting national outrage and protests. Grecia Quiroz, Manzo’s widow, vowed to continue his work by assuming the mayoral responsibilities.

As the investigation into Manzo’s assassination continues, authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with the case. The new mayor will reportedly receive enhanced security measures to ensure safety in the wake of the tragic incident.