The Morena party will launch an internal audit and evaluation process for all candidates seeking elected office following a dispute with the PRI.
This move comes as Morena attempts to protect its legitimacy against allegations of ties to organized crime. The internal review is intended to counter claims that the party is influenced by criminal interests, which could jeopardize its standing in upcoming elections.
Earlier this month, Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, the national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Morena. According to reports, the PRI asked the U.S. to declare Morena as a "narcopartido" [1] or a terrorist organization [2].
Ariadna Montiel, the national leader of Morena, responded to the request by calling it a "solicitud disfrazada de intervención extranjera," or a request disguised as foreign intervention [1]. Montiel said the PRI's attempt to involve the U.S. government in Mexican political affairs is an attack on national sovereignty.
To address the controversy, Montiel said the party will implement a rigorous vetting process. "Vamos a implementar un proceso de evaluación y auditoría interna a la totalidad de nuestras candidaturas," Montiel said [3]. This process aims to ensure that no candidates have links to criminal organizations.
The PRI's request to the U.S. government has created a sharp divide between the two political entities. While the PRI frames the request as a necessary step to expose criminal influence in government, Morena frames it as a desperate attempt by the opposition to use foreign power to influence domestic politics [1], [2].
Morena officials have maintained that the party remains committed to transparency. The audit will serve as a mechanism to verify the backgrounds of those running for office, and to preemptively remove any candidates who do not meet the party's ethical standards [3].
“"Es una solicitud disfrazada de intervención extranjera."”
The clash between Morena and the PRI highlights a growing trend of Mexican political parties attempting to leverage international legal mechanisms, specifically U.S. justice departments, to delegitimize domestic opponents. By initiating an internal audit, Morena is attempting to neutralize the 'narcopartido' label before it can gain traction with the electorate or trigger actual U.S. sanctions.
