Mexican PRI Senator Alejandro “Alito” Moreno accuses Fernandez Noroña of initiating the attack: “He threw the first push out of cowardice.”
On August 27, 2025, the Mexican Senate witnessed an unprecedented physical altercation between Alejandro “Alito” Moreno, leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Gerardo Fernández Noroña, president of the Senate and a prominent member of the Morena party. The clash erupted during the final session of the Comisión Permanente, as tensions flared over procedural disputes and political grievances.
The confrontation began when Moreno approached the tribune, demanding the right to speak. Noroña refused, prompting Moreno to grab his arm, which quickly escalated into a series of shoves and punches.
The situation deteriorated further when PRI deputy Carlos Mancilla joined the fray, reportedly assaulting Emiliano González, a photographer and aide to Noroña, who was left injured on the floor with a broken camera and visible trauma. Vice President of the Senate, Dolores Padierna, narrowly avoided being struck amid the chaos.
Following the incident, Fernández Noroña held a press conference flanked by 18 legislators and Emiliano González, who appeared with a neck brace and immobilized arm. Noroña announced his intention to file criminal charges against Moreno for assault and property damage, describing the attack as “premeditated, with malice and advantage”. He emphasized that he did not retaliate physically and called for video evidence to support his account.
The political fallout was swift. Morena and its allies initiated proceedings to strip Moreno and three PRI deputies of their parliamentary immunity. Senator Andrea Chávez condemned Moreno as a “dangerous, violent man” and offered legal support to González. The incident sparked national outrage, raising concerns about decorum and safety within the legislative chambers.
This episode marked a low point in Mexican parliamentary conduct, highlighting deepening partisan divides and prompting calls for institutional reforms to prevent future violence in Congress.
With information from OEM
