During President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s visit to supervise Welfare programs, the Mayor of Tecámac, Mariela Gutiérrez kissed his hand; criticism of the act of submission erupted on social media, but she stated it was a gesture of respect and gratitude.
Kissing the hand of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador or a loved one is “a natural custom in our country,” a gesture of gratitude and respect.
That’s what Tecámac Mayor Mariela Gutiérrez said after the controversy sparked by her kissing the hand of the federal executive on Friday during a visit to the State of Mexico.
In a video she shared on social media, the official responded to the criticism that arose from the gesture:
“I see that the hand-kissing of President López Obrador has caused quite a stir. What can I say? Those who are making a fuss about it are simply revealing their classism. It is a natural custom in our country that we show to someone we love very much, someone we respect, someone we consider an authority, and for me, that’s our president,” she said.
In her message, she emphasized that she has fought alongside President López Obrador for 20 years to achieve better development in the State of Mexico, citing the Felipe Ángeles International Airport as an example.
This Friday, during a tour of the State of Mexico by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the mayor of Tecámac, Mariela Gutiérrez Escalante, kissed the hand of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
It all happened during the visit that the Tabasco-born president, along with Governor Delfina Gómez, made to the “Sierra Hermosa” Ecological and Sports Park in Tecámac.
At the beginning of the event, during the introduction of the attendees, Tecámac Mayor Mariela Gutiérrez Escalante kissed López Obrador’s hand.
While kissing someone’s hand is a gesture of respect and courtesy in many cultures, the action of the mayor of Tecámac did not go unnoticed and sparked criticism.
TYT Newsroom
