Mexico’s Senate descended into chaos Thursday when a debate over U.S. involvement in combating drug cartels spiraled into a physical fight between lawmakers.
The altercation highlighted not only partisan tempers but also the country’s deep divisions over how to confront cartel violence.
The clash began when Alejandro “Alito” Moreno, leader of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), pressed for additional time to address the chamber after proceedings had already concluded.
A video circulating online shows him storming toward Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña of the ruling Morena party and grabbing him by the arm.
“I’m asking you to let me speak,” Moreno shouted. Noroña, trying to pull away, retorted, “Don’t touch me!”
As colleagues rushed to intervene, the situation escalated further.
An aide who attempted to step between the two men was sent tumbling to the floor, and another opposition senator took a swing at Noroña. The scuffle quickly spread through the chamber as shouts echoed across the floor.
Noroña later described the confrontation as deliberate provocation.
“[Moreno] started to provoke me, to touch me, to pull at me,” he told reporters. “He hit me on the arms and said: ‘I’m going to beat the s**t out of you, I’m