A dramatic confrontation erupted during a public session of Mexico’s Senate, capturing widespread attention. Video footage circulating on social media shows Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña of the ruling Morena party and Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), engaging in a physical altercation.
The incident occurred Wednesday as senators sang Mexico’s national anthem. After the ceremony, Moreno, known as “Alito,” approached Noroña, who was leading the session. When a staff member attempted to escort Noroña away, Moreno grabbed his arm, prompting Noroña to push back. The exchange escalated into shoves, with Moreno throwing a punch. A staffer trying to mediate was also pushed and fell to the ground. As Noroña tried to exit the chamber, another legislator grabbed him by the collar and attempted to strike him before the confrontation ended.
The clash reportedly stemmed from tensions over floor requests. PRI members had repeatedly sought to speak during the session but were denied by Noroña in his role as presiding officer. Moreno’s attempt to address the issue at the podium led to the heated exchange.
Noroña, 65, leads the Senate after Morena and its allies expanded their majority in the 2024 elections, securing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s political agenda. Moreno, 50, has headed the PRI since 2019, a party that once dominated Mexican politics but now holds limited influence in Congress.
