Internal rifts within the Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (Morena) have come to light as key party leaders, Ricardo Monreal and Adán Augusto López, engage in increasingly public disputes following the recent approval of the federal budget for 2025. The clash highlights tensions over significant budget cuts to the Senate, triggering accusations of financial mismanagement and questioning the integrity of several contracts tied to service provisions during Monreal’s past leadership.
Following the approval of the federal budget, which includes reductions amounting to MXN 260 million to the Senate, López, who currently serves as the president of the Senate's Political Coordination Board (Jucopo), publicly criticized Monreal’s previous management of contracts related to administrative services and elevator maintenance. Specifically, López raised concerns over MXN 90 million awarded to Grupo PIASA for elevator maintenance, which he claimed had failed to demonstrate adequate service, and MXN 60 million for the Full Services company, which allegedly hoarded documents instead of properly maintaining them.
“Me han preguntado durante la tarde de ayer y el día de hoy que cómo es posible que podamos salir con este presupuesto, que no nada más no aumentó ni siquiera en términos de la inflación, sino que sufrió una reducción,” López stated, emphasizing the necessity of reviewing these contracts due to the substantial budgetary constraints.
Monreal vehemently denied the allegations of irregularities presented by López, referring to them as “infundios y falsedades.” He challenged his critics to substantiate their claims with evidence, stating, “que sí se presenten las denuncias con todos los contratos simulados que dicen tener.” Monreal indicated his willingness to move forward with transparency, adding, “es posible llevar las actividades sin esos 150 millones de pesos,” restressing the fiscal responsibility and integrity of his office.
The conflict has drawn the attention of party leadership, with Claudia Sheinbaum, also a prominent Morena figure, advising both men to keep “cabeza fría” or remain cool-headed to navigate the turbulence. During public remarks, Sheinbaum characterized the tensions as “un asunto normal” within party dynamics and expressed confidence in the party's unity. “Estos son asuntos normales entre ellos, pero hay unidad en el movimiento,” she affirmed during her appearance, minimizing the schism between the leaders.
Despite Sheinbaum’s attempts to soften the discord, reactions among party members indicate significant divisions. Gerardo Fernández Noroña, another high-ranking Morena member, has publicly suggested the conflict may stem more from personal vendettas than operational differences, implying Monreal's resistance to adhering to political directives might have incited López's allegations. “Es posible que la polémica entre Adán Augusto y Monreal sea, más bien, una venganza de parte de Monreal,” Noroña articulated, signaling the complex dynamics underlying the confrontation.
Monreal’s office has shared documentation defending his role during his previous tenure, aiming to counter the claims made against him. He stressed the importance of transparency, sharing audit findings and termination of superfluous contracts to bolster support among legislators wary of the financial circumstances. This accumulated documentation serves to protect Monreal’s reputation as well as the party as it heads toward pivotal elections slated for 2024.
The friction within Morena does not merely reflect internal strife; it reveals growing concerns about maintaining party cohesion as the next electoral season approaches. Monreal has faced criticism from within his own ranks, leading to public displays of support yet increasing calls for accountability. The dispute has provoked discussions around fundamental values and unity within the ranks, with several legislators publicly expressing their support for Monreal, albeit with caution.
This conflict encapsulates the challenges faced by Morena as internal disputes threaten to overshadow its foundational mission and electorally-driven goals. If the claims remain unresolved and follow through to formal accusations, they could undermine the party’s efforts to present itself as unified and efficacious heading toward the upcoming electoral challenges. The leadership must prioritize not only addressing these contentious issues but also advancing strategic dialogues to shore up solidarity amid existing fractures.
Moving forward, it remains imperative for both Monreal and López to urgently clarify these allegations to mitigate any potential damage to the party's collective standing. The forthcoming meetings scheduled between the two leaders may offer avenues for reconciliation; albeit, this remains contingent on mutual recognition of past actions and transparency riding on their political strategies.
