Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will press charges against a man who groped her during a public appearance.
Mobile phone footage of the incident on Tuesday shows Sheinbaum speaking to a group of supporters on a street near the National Palace in Mexico City.
In the video, a man approaches her from behind and attempts to kiss her on the neck and place his hands on her body.
Sheinbaum moved away quickly and a member of her team stepped in, but she was visibly shaken. The offender has been arrested.
My view is, if I don't file a complaint, what will happen to other Mexican women? If they do this to the president, what will happen to all women in our country? Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday.
She added that she had decided to press ahead with bringing charges against the suspect as he had allegedly harassed other women in the crowd.
Women's rights groups have said the incident reflects the entrenched machismo in Mexican society, where men feel entitled to harass women. Femicide remains a grave issue, with an estimated 98% of gender-based murders left unpunished.
Sheinbaum vowed to tackle these issues during her campaign, yet many women still feel unsafe. The incident also comes amid ongoing discussions about presidential security following the recent murder of a local mayor.
Despite the risks, Sheinbaum confirmed her intention to continue engaging openly with the public, a strategy she has maintained since taking office.
