MEXICO CITY (CN) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced in her morning press conference on Wednesday that she pressed charges against the man who attempted to kiss and touch her during a public meet-and-greet Tuesday afternoon in downtown Mexico City near the Presidential Palace.

"If I don't file a complaint, where would this leave all Mexican women? If this is done to the president, what happens to all the young women in our country?" Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum stated that Citlalli Hernandez, head of the Ministry of Women, will review the harassment laws in all 32 states.

"We are going to make a campaign, not just related to the president but to all Mexican women. There has to be respect for women, in every way, and harassment is a crime," Sheinbaum said.

The Ministry of Women also issued a statement on the incident.

"The President's closeness to the people of Mexico cannot be interpreted as an opportunity to invade her personal space, nor to commit any type of physical contact without consent. It is essential that men understand that this type of event not only violates women but is also a crime," it said.

Videos of the incident show Sheinbaum meeting with a small crowd of people as she walked through the downtown area from the National Palace on her way to the Ministry of Public Education for a meeting. Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday that walking instead of driving through the crowded streets was a time saving measure.

An unknown man who appeared to be drunk approached the scene and put his arms around her as he attempted to kiss her and then tried to touch her body.

Security details interfered as Sheinbaum was visibly uncomfortable and attempted to deescalate the situation.

However, according to a statement made by the Secretariat of Citizen Security, the man was not arrested until later at 9 p.m., after the security authorities responded to two other incidents of harassment in the same neighborhood perpetrated by the same man.

The incident highlights security concerns within the Morena party.

Morena party Congressman Ricardo Monreal said to the media in an interview after a congress session on Wednesday morning that he condemns the incident and Sheinbaum is not to blame but her security team needs to do a better job.

"She will always be close to the people but her team has to improve, not necessarily her. She has always been like this and she is not going to change, but her close circle has to take extreme precautions," said Monreal.

Morena party politicians going back to Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have been known to interact with the public in keeping with their populist message with little to no visible security detail.

In 2020, Lopez Obrador caused a stir when he flew to the U.S. for a meeting with President Donald Trump on a commercial flight without any visible security.

Tuesday's incident occurred as the country is still on edge after Uruapan mayor, Carlos Manzo, was murdered at a public event on Nov. 1.

Manzo had requested federal protection after receiving death threats for months, which - according to Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection, Omar Harfuch - was granted, though no security detail can be seen in the videos of his murder.

Source: Courthouse News Service