Mexican deputies clash amid cartel accusations during judicial reform debate

A debate on judicial reform in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies descended into chaos Wednesday, as lawmakers from the ruling Morena party and the opposition PRI traded accusations of links to drug cartels, leading to a physical confrontation. The argument escalated when PRI deputy Carlos Gutiérrez Mancilla accused Morena deputy Leonel Godoy of being involved in the murder of the mayor of Uruapan. Mancilla alleged that the push for judicial reform was a tactic to distract from alleged ties between organized crime and Morena politicians.

"If the country starts asking about narco-politicians, they fill the conversation with propaganda because they are scared to death that Mexico starts connecting the dots, and the dots lead to Macuspana, lead to Rocha Moya, lead to Andy López, lead to Adán Augusto and lead to the murderer of Leonel Godoy, who is in this Chamber of Deputies," Mancilla stated from the tribune. He further criticized the government, saying, "While the country is burning, here they want to discuss for the umpteenth time how to divide control of the Judiciary, it is truly grotesque. Mexico is not talking about judges in the streets, Mexico is talking about dead people, clandestine graves, crematoriums, like in the worst moments of human history; that is your legacy."

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If the country starts asking about narco-politicians, they fill the conversation with propaganda because they are scared to death that Mexico starts connecting the dots, and the dots lead to Macuspana, lead to Rocha Moya, lead to Andy López, lead to Adán Augusto and lead to the murderer of Leonel Godoy, who is in this Chamber of Deputies.

As Godoy attempted to respond, Mancilla refused to leave the tribune, prompting deputies from both Morena and the PRI to surge forward, resulting in pushing and shoving. The presiding officer, Kenia López, struggled to restore order and prevent the session's suspension. Morena's coordinator, Ricardo Monreal, urged his party members to respect a prior agreement to vote on the general aspects of the reform and then take a recess, asking them to leave the tribune.

After order was restored, Godoy retorted, accusing the PRI and PAN parties of also having members with alleged ties to drug trafficking. He pointed out that despite numerous PRI governors facing prosecution and imprisonment, Morena had not labeled the PRI a "narco-party." Similarly, he noted that the PAN has had governors prosecuted and a secretary convicted, yet they were not labeled as such. Godoy criticized the opposition for their constant insults directed at former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President Claudia Sheinbaum.

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While the country is burning, here they want to discuss for the umpteenth time how to divide control of the Judiciary, it is truly grotesque. Mexico is not talking about judges in the streets, Mexico is talking about dead people, clandestine graves, crematoriums, like in the worst moments of human history; that is your legacy.