A session of the Mexican Senate turned chaotic on Wednesday as two high-ranking politicians exchanged blows after an intense discussion regarding the U.S.’s role in the conflict against drug cartels.
Footage recorded the volatile instant when Alejandro “Alito” Moreno, leader of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Gerardo Fernández Noroña, the Senate president from the governing Morena Party, aggressively pushed each other following the national anthem, which concluded the day’s session.
The confrontation began after a strained debate, with reports indicating that the Morena Party and its supporters accused legislators from the PRI and the conservative National Action Party (PAN) of advocating for U.S. military intervention in Mexico, an allegation the opposition parties refuted.
This matter has become particularly controversial after reports emerged that President authorized U.S. military action against Latin American drug cartels identified as terrorist organizations.
Moreno, who claimed his party was refused the opportunity to give closing remarks, was observed approaching Fernández Noroña, declaring, “I’m asking you to let me speak,” as he grasped the Senate president’s arm.
“Don’t touch me!” Fernández Noroña reportedly shouted in return, as the two men aggressively pushed one another while colleagues hurried to intervene.
During the altercation, Moreno also got into a dispute with Emiliano González, a cameraman working with Fernández Noroña, who was pushed to the ground. Another legislator was witnessed pulling the Senate president’s suit jacket and attempting to hit him as he sought to flee the chaos.
Fernández Noroña alleged that Moreno threatened his life, as per local reports.
“He struck me and stated, ‘I’m going to break your mother, I’m going to kill you,'” Fernández Noroña revealed in a press conference, according to reports.
Moreno responded by asserting that the governing party was suppressing opposition views and maintained that Fernández Noroña had initiated the confrontation.
“Let it be clear: the initial physical assault originated from Fernández Noroña,” Moreno stated in a post on X on Wednesday. “An agenda had been approved. Moments before addressing the relevant item, Morena altered it for their own benefit to silence us and stop the opposition from speaking. Their duty was to grant me the floor, and they failed to do so.”
The Senate president announced his intention to file a criminal complaint against Moreno and three other PRI legislators who were involved, specifically Carlos Eduardo Gutierrez Mancilla, Alonso Erubiel Lorenzo, and Ruben Moreira.
Furthermore, Fernández Noroña is convening an emergency session on Friday to recommend the expulsion of Moreno and the three other legislators following the scuffle, as reported by the New York Post.
Fernández Noroña and Alejandro Moreno did not provide an immediate response when asked for comment by Digital.