A heated confrontation erupted on Wednesday in the Mexican Senate after two senior lawmakers engaged in a physical altercation during plenary proceedings in Mexico City.

The incident involved Alejandro “Alito” Moreno Cárdenas, national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña of the ruling Morena party. Television footage aired by N+ captured the moment both legislators exchanged shoves, prompting other members of the chamber to intervene.

The clash reportedly began after Moreno approached the Senate President to protest being denied the floor following the singing of the national anthem, which traditionally marks the close of legislative business.

Following the session, Moreno took to social media platform X to release a video, alleging that Senator Noroña initiated the aggression. In response, Noroña announced that he and the Morena caucus would lodge formal complaints for damages arising from the incident.

The fracas comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions in the Senate. In September last year, the chamber approved sweeping reforms to Mexico’s judiciary, a move critics argue could undermine judicial independence by subjecting judges to popular elections.

Under the reform, 881 judges elected on June 1, 2025, will be sworn in before the Senate on September 1. This will result in a complete renewal of the Supreme Court bench, which will consist of a majority of five women and four men.