Claudia Sheinbaum: The Mexican President Sues Harasser After An Inappropriate Incident

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been in the public spotlight after being subjected to groping and an attempted kiss by an unknown man.

The incident happened when Sheinbaum was addressing supporters at a public event in Mexico City's historic downtown on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

In response to the incident, Claudia Sheinbaum did not remain silent.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, she firmly stated that she had filed a criminal complaint against the man who committed the indecent act.

The perpetrator was arrested by authorities shortly after the incident.

Sheinbaum emphasized that the harassment she experienced was not merely a personal attack, but an attack on all women.

🇲🇽 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was sexually assaulted on Tuesday, while interacting with passers-by on the streets of Mexico City. pic.twitter.com/8K2u1XMJyl

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) November 5, 2025

The inappropriate incident involving Claudia Sheinbaum occurred suddenly amidst a crowd of supporters.

A widely circulated video shows a man, described as visibly intoxicated, suddenly groping and attempting to kiss President Sheinbaum while she was interacting with the crowd.

In the footage, Claudia Sheinbaum is seen calmly pushing the man's hand away.

She maintains a stiff smile and can be heard saying, "Don't worry," despite the uncomfortable situation.

A member of her staff immediately stepped forward to separate them, and security officers swiftly intervened to stop the man.

Presenté una denuncia por el episodio de acoso que viví ayer en la Ciudad de México. Debe quedar claro que, más allá de ser presidenta, esto es algo que viven muchas mujeres en el país y en el mundo; nadie puede vulnerar nuestro cuerpo y espacio personal. Revisaremos la… pic.twitter.com/jcs6FweI6q

— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) November 5, 2025

After the incident, President Claudia Sheinbaum took strong legal action.

She filed criminal charges against the man who groped and attempted to kiss her, who has since been arrested.

Sheinbaum stated that the harassment she experienced was an attack on all women, and this was the primary reason she decided to file a lawsuit.

“My thinking is: If I don’t file a complaint, what becomes of other Mexican women? If this happens to the president, what will happen to all the women in our country?” Sheinbaum told her regular morning news conference on Wednesday.

"No man has the right to violate that space," she asserted, emphasizing the importance of respecting the privacy of every individual, especially women.

The incident involving Claudia Sheinbaum sparked widespread public outrage and re-emerged the issue of gender-based violence in Mexico.

Nevertheless, Sheinbaum stated that her practice of direct interaction with the public would not change.

She is committed to remaining close to her people, but this incident has sparked renewed discussion about legal reforms to protect women from street harassment and other forms of violence.

She also called on states across Mexico to look at their laws and procedures to make it easier for women to report such assaults and said Mexicans needed to hear a “loud and clear, no, women’s personal space must not be violated”.

Mexico’s 32 states and Mexico City, which is a federal entity, all have their own criminal codes, and not all states consider sexual harassment a crime.

UN data indicates that approximately 70 percent of Mexican women aged 15 and over will experience at least one incident of sexual harassment in their lifetime, highlighting the urgency of the issue.