Senate proceedings erupted into physical violence after a heated debate over foreign troops. Alejandro Alito Moreno, head of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), grabbed at Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña of the ruling Morena party after lawmakers finished the national anthem. The two shouted, shoved and Moreno slapped Fernández Noroña on the neck; an aide who intervened was knocked to the floor and another lawmaker swung at the senate leader. Fernández Noroña later accused Moreno of provoking and threatening him with death. Morena defended Fernández Noroña on social media. The clash followed allegations that opposition parties sought U.S. military assistance — an accusation they denied — amid recent reports about U.S. authorization to target drug cartels.
Mexico's senate devolved into violence this week as two of the country's top politicians shoved, grabbed and shouted at each other after a heated discussion over the presence of foreign troops. Alejandro Alito Moreno, head of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary party (Pri), grabbed at Gerardo Fernandez Norona, the senate president from the ruling Morena party, after lawmakers finished singing the national anthem to mark the end of the day's session on Wednesday.
When Fernandez Norona tries to pull himself away, Moreno can be seen grabbing at him again, before both lawmakers start grabbing and shoving each other, with Moreno even slapping Fernandez Norona on the neck. When an aide to Fernandez Norona steps between them, Moreno knocks him to the floor. As Fernandez Norona tries to exit the podium, another lawmaker enters the fray, taking a swing at the senate leader.
[Moreno] started to provoke me, to touch me, to pull at me, Fernandez Norona said during a press conference after the incident. He hit me on the arms and said: I'm going to beat the shit out of you, I'm going to kill you.' Morena wrote on social media: When Norona crossed the line, he knew exactly what he was doing. I will always respond head-on, with character and without fear, to defend Mexico and give it the direction it deserves.
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