Violence erupted in Mexico’s senate on Wednesday when opposition party leader Alejandro “Alito” Moreno physically confronted senate president Gerardo Fernandez Norona during the closing moments of a session, leading to punches, pushing, and shouting among lawmakers. The incident occurred at the conclusion of a contentious debate about foreign armed forces in Mexico, as legislators were singing the national anthem, as per a report by AFP.The altercation began when Moreno, who heads the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), approached Fernandez Norona of the ruling Morena party, repeatedly demanding to speak. The situation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between the two political leaders.Livestreamed footage captured Moreno approaching Fernandez Norona, repeatedly stating, “I’m asking you to let me speak,” while grabbing the senate president’s arm. Fernandez Norona responded by saying, “Don’t touch me.”The confrontation intensified as both leaders began pushing each other, during which Moreno knocked over a photographer. The situation further deteriorated when another lawmaker joined the altercation, attempting to strike Fernandez Norona as he tried to step away from the conflict.“(Moreno) started pulling on me, touching me, pushing. He hit me and said, ‘I’m going to beat the shit out of you, I’m going to kill you’,” Fernandez Norona later stated at a press conference.The senate president announced his intention to call an emergency session for Friday to address the incident. During this session, he plans to propose the expulsion of Moreno and three other PRI lawmakers involved in the physical altercation.Moreno defended his actions by claiming that Fernandez Norona had initiated the physical contact by striking first, presenting a conflicting account of the events that transpired on the senate floor.The incident occurred following what Fernandez Norona described as a “difficult debate” regarding the presence of armed forces from other countries in Mexico, highlighting the tensions between the ruling Morena party and the opposition PRI.The physical confrontation between these high-ranking political figures has raised concerns about the state of political discourse and decorum within Mexico’s legislative bodies, as well as the growing tensions between ruling and opposition parties.
