Ariadna Montiel, the former Secretary of Welfare, was sworn in this Sunday as the new president of Morena's National Executive Committee during the party's VIII Extraordinary National Congress. Held at the World Trade Center, the event also officially appointed Óscar del Cueto García as the organization's Secretary of Finance, according to El Financiero.
The leadership transition took place during a meeting on May 3, following the departure of Luisa María Alcalde from the national leadership. Alcalde, who will join the Legal Counsel of the Presidency under Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, highlighted the party's rapid growth, noting that membership surged from 2.5 million to 12.5 million in just eighteen months, as reported by El Universal.
Between Unity and Accountability
In her inaugural address, Montiel invoked the movement's history of social and electoral struggles dating back to the late 20th century. She asserted that Morena was born as a response to neoliberal governments that, in her words, "benefited only a few" while leaving millions in poverty. She described the collective as a "revolution of consciousness, civil resistance, and a peaceful struggle for democracy," according to El Financiero.
The new president also established strict criteria for future candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. Montiel declared that integrity will be an indispensable requirement, insisting that an aspirant's track record must be "impeccable" to secure a nomination, even if they lead in internal polling, per El Universal.
Furthermore, Montiel reaffirmed the party's support for the Sheinbaum administration, emphasizing that the collective will defend national sovereignty and the current political trajectory with the rallying cry: “We are going to back our president. She is not alone,” El Financiero reported.
Distancing from Rubén Rocha Moya
The congress was marked by a notable silence regarding the acting governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, who faces allegations from the U.S. government regarding purported links to drug trafficking. El Universal reported that, unlike other internal crises, Morena leaders avoided mentioning Rocha Moya by name and showed no signs of solidarity toward him.
Montiel’s arrival comes at a time of high tension, as the U.S. accusations involve not only the governor but also nine other officials allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, according to El Financiero.
Several Morena lawmakers expressed their intention to leave the governor's future in the hands of the Attorney General's Office (FGR). Congresswoman Dolores Padierna stated that following Rocha Moya's request for a leave of absence, the politician must remain "at the mercy of what the authorities say, as they must do their jobs," according to El Universal.
Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña expressed confidence in the governor's innocence but warned that, should a guilty verdict be reached, "there will be no impunity in this or any other case." In contrast, Senator Manuel Huerta Ladrón de Guevara told the press that he did not know the official.
As the session concluded, the atmosphere at the convention was described as strained. Although delegates from Sinaloa attempted to organize a chant in support of Rocha Moya, the gesture failed to gain traction among the attendees, according to El Universal. The day ended with a call from outgoing leader Luisa María Alcalde for unity in the face of external pressures, urging members to close ranks in defense of the "transformation" project.
